The Speeches & Table-Talk of the Prophet Mohammad · Prophet Muhammad
CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LAW.
It is not for a believer to kill a believer, but by mistake; and whoso killeth a believer by mistake must free a believing slave; and the blood-wit must be paid to his family, unless they remit it in alms; but if he be of a people hostile to you, and yet a believer, then let him only free a believing slave, and if it be a tribe between whom and you there is an alliance, then let the blood-wit be paid to his family, and let him free a believing slave; but if he cannot find the means, then let him fast for two consecutive months--a penance from God: for God is all-knowing and wise. And whoso killeth a believer on purpose, his reward is Hell, to abide therein for ever, and God will be wroth with him, and curse him, and prepare for him a mighty torment.--iv. 94, 95. O ye who believe! Retaliation is prescribed for you for the slain: the free for the free, the slave for the slave, the woman for the woman, yet for him who is remitted aught by his brother, shall be prosecution in reason, and payment in generosity.--ii. 173. He who slayeth a soul, unless it be for another soul, or for wickedness in the land, is as though he had slain all mankind; and he who saveth a soul alive is as though he had saved the lives of all mankind.--v. 35.
The reward of those who war against God and His apostle, and work evil in the earth, is but that they shall be killed or crucified, or that their hands and feet shall be cut off alternately, or that they shall be banished from the land--that is their disgrace in this world, and in the next they shall have a mighty torment.--v. 37. The man thief and the woman thief, cut off the hands of both in requital for what they have done; an example from God, for God is mighty and wise.--v. 42. They who devour usury shall not rise again, save as he riseth whom the Devil hath smitten with his touch; that is because they say, “Selling is only like usury:” but God hath allowed selling, and forbidden usury.--ii. 276. If ye fear that ye cannot do justice between orphans, then marry such women as are lawful to you, by twos or threes or fours; and if ye fear ye cannot be equitable, then only one, or what [slaves] your right hands possess: that is the chief thing--that ye be not unfair.--iv. 3. Marry those of you who are single, and the good among your servants, and your handmaidens. If they be poor, God of his bounty will enrich them, and God is liberal, wise. And let those who cannot find a match, live in chastity, till God of His bounty shall enrich them.--xxiv. 32.
Wed not idolatrous women until they believe, for surely a believing handmaiden is better than an idolatress, although she captivate you. And wed not idolaters until they believe, for a believing slave is better than an idolater, although he charm you.--ii. 220. Divorce may be twice: then take them in reason or let them go with kindness. It is not lawful for you to take from them aught of what ye have given them, unless both fear that they cannot keep God’s bounds. But if he divorce her [a third time], she is not lawful to him afterwards, until she marry another husband; but if he also divorce her, it is no crime in them both to come together again.--ii. 229, 230. And for the divorced there should be a maintenance in reason, a duty this on those who fear God.--ii. 242. Against those of your women who commit adultery, summon witnesses four in number from among you; and if these bear witness [to the crime], then keep the women in houses till death release them, or God make a way for them.--iv. 19. They who slander chaste women, and bring not four witnesses, scourge them with fourscore stripes, and receive not their testimony for ever, for these are the transgressors:--save those who afterwards repent and do what is right--for God is forgiving, merciful.--xxiv. 4.
It is prescribed for you that, when one of you is at the point of death, if he leave property, the legacy is to his parents and to his kindred in reason--a duty upon those that fear God.--ii. 176. God ordereth you concerning your children: for a male, the equal of the portion of two females, and if there be more than two women, let them have two-thirds of what [the deceased] hath left; and if there be only one, then let her have the half; and for the parents, for each of them a sixth of what he hath left, if he hath issue; but if he hath no issue, and his parents inherit, then let his mother have a third; and if he hath brethren, let his mother have a sixth, after payment of any bequest he may have bequeathed, or debts. Your parents and your children, ye know not which is the more helpful to you. An ordinance from God: verily God is all-knowing and wise! And yours is half of what your wives leave, if they have no issue; but if they have issue, then ye shall have a fourth of what they leave, after payment of any bequests they may bequeath, or their debts; and they shall have a fourth of what ye leave, if ye have no issue; but if ye have issue, then let them have an eighth of what ye leave, after paying of any bequest ye may bequeath, or debts. And if the man’s or the woman’s heir be a collateral kinsman, and he (or she) have a brother or a sister, then let each of these two have a sixth; but if they are more than that, let them share a third, after payment of any bequests he may bequeath, or debts, without prejudice; an ordinance from God, and God is wise and clement!
These are God’s statutes, and whoso obeyeth God and the Apostle, He will bring him into gardens, whereunder rivers flow, to abide therein for aye,--that is the great prize! But whoso rebelleth against God and his Apostle, and transgresseth His statutes, He will bring him into fire, to dwell therein for aye; and his shall be a shameful torment.--iv. 12-18. Those of you who die and leave wives, should leave their wives maintenance for a year, without driving them out [from their homes]: but if they go out, there is no crime in you for what they do for themselves in reason; and God is mighty and wise.--ii. 241. If a man perish and leave no issue, but leave a sister, then hers is half of what he leaves, and he shall be her heir, if she have no issue; but if there be two sisters, let them have two-thirds of what he leaves, and if there be brethren, both men and women, let the male have the equal of the portion of two females. God maketh this plain to you, lest ye err; and God knoweth all things.--iv. 176. O ye who believe! stand fast by justice, bearing witness before God, though it be against yourselves, or your parents, or your kindred, whether it be rich or poor; for God is worthier than they.--iv. 134.
To those of your slaves who desire a deed [for buying their freedom], write it for them, if ye know good in them, and give them a portion of the wealth of God which He hath given you.--xxiv. 33. If any of the idolaters seek refuge with thee, grant him refuge, that he may hear the word of God; then let him reach his place in safety.--ix. 6. God wisheth to make it light for you, for man was created weak.--iv. 32. If ye shun great sins which ye are forbidden, we will cover your offences, and make you enter Paradise with a noble entrance.--iv. 35.
Text from Project Gutenberg, public domain in the United States.