Quran and Hadith Studies‎

The brotherhood between the murderer and the victim, or their guardians, in cases of intentional homicide with reference to verse 178 of Surah al-Baqarah

Document Type : Research Article

Author

Assistant Professor of Quran and Hadith Studies, Mofid University, Qom, Iran.

10.30497/qhs.2025.248167.4133

Abstract

Islam regards Muslims as brothers to one another and establishes a bond of brotherhood among them. Describing believers as brothers in faith is, in fact, an emphasis on their mutual rights, solidarity, cooperation, and assistance, as well as a call to avoid division and disunity. One of the instances where this brotherhood is explicitly mentioned is in verse 178 of Surah al-Baqarah. One of the parties referred to in this verse is the murderer in a case of intentional homicide, and this has led commentators to explore which individuals are included in this brotherhood in the verse and, if the intentional murderer is one of them, how he can still be referred to as a “brother in faith.” It seems that most exegetes have considered the absence of debauchery (fisq) and major sin (kabīrah) to be prerequisites for the establishment of religious brotherhood. This article seeks to present and substantiate the interpretation that religious brotherhood encompasses all ranks of believers and all members of the Islamic community, and that committing major sins or acts of debauchery does not nullify this bond. The fundamental purpose of recognizing religious brotherhood in the Qur’anic verses is to foster empathy and unity among all members of the Muslim community. Such solidarity will only be achieved when exclusion and polarization are eliminated from the Islamic society, and even those believers who occupy lower levels of faith are included within the scope of this brotherhood.

Keywords

Main Subjects

The Holy Quran.
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Quran and Hadith Studies‎
Volume 19, Issue 1 - Serial Number 37
September 2025
Pages 175-191