Re: Answer This!

Submitted by jaleel (United States), Mar 15, 2006 at 23:16

A more accurate translation of the verse would be:

On account of this, We prescribed for the children of Israel that whosoever killed a person-- unless it be for [killing] a person or for creating disorder in the land-- it shall be as if he had killed all mankind; and whoso gave life to one, it shall be as if he had given life to all mankind. And Our Messengers came to them with clear Signs, yet even after that, many of them commit excesses in the land.

So God is explaining the sanctity of life and how enourmous a sin it is for anyone to commit murder. The verse is teaching us NOT to commit murder. The exception in this case is the same exception that applies when the local police force have to use their weapons to deal with criminals and when the death penalty is sometimes applied to heinous murderers who have taken the life of innocent people wrongly. These are teachings for establishing peace and harmony in the land.

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