Iran and Saudi Arabia are the only countries that take the Qur'anic decree of "eye for an eye" literally under Shari'ah law. In a passage discussing the Law of Moses, the Qur'an says, "We ordained therein for them: 'Life for life, eye for eye, nose or nose, ear for ear, tooth for tooth, and wounds equal for equal.' But if any one remits the retaliation by way of charity, it is an act of atonement for himself. And if any fail to judge by (the light of) what God has revealed, they are (no better than) wrong-doers" (Qur'an 5:45).
The young woman was able to convince the Tehran court that these verses apply to her situation, and she chose not to give up her right of retaliation. In late November, the court sentenced the young man to be blinded with acid and pay the victim monetary compensation as well. He has until early this week to appeal.
I have mixed feelings about this verdict. Acid attacks against young women are a fairly recent and increasingly common crime in many societies, especially in countries such as Cambodia and India. Such a vicious, disfiguring attack should be severely punished, as a deterrent to future acts. It seems somewhat barbaric, though, to deliberately destroy a person's vision. But isn't that what he did to her? If he had killed her, he would have received the death penalty under Islamic capital punishment laws. Under a law introduced in Bangladesh in 2002, he may have received the death penalty for the acid attack itself. Is that punishment any more or less "barbaric"?
Gandhi said that "an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind." What do you think?
That’s yet another sad story.
The question is not whether it’s barbaric or not, but whether the laws in the country where these things occur are severe enough to deter people from committing such crimes. It’s also a question of education.
As salam alaykum
We must accept the Quiran’s law full, not only a part of it, then the person who injure other must be punished in the same way and it is not matter of education, because to harm anybody is very clear that is a sin and the person have to be responsable of his acts.
Wa as salam
If those guys can not stop what they are doing let them pay for their act the same way.
Female are not for that, they have to be care for at all time and not inhumunely treated.
I think the ear for ear law is better for those regions where those crime are been committed
As Salaam Alaykom:
While my name is absolutely Arab, I am an American girl who talks that way. I had no exposure to Islamic/Arab ways before I converted.
To me it seems that Arab men are allowed to behave like preadolescents. It seems like they do not have to take responsibility for anything they do. It is shocking what some of them say to me, as if I were simply a toy to them.
It also seems from the reports I have seen, that he still persues her and plans to do her harm. She will never have a life safe from his aggression. She will always fear him.
Death, I think.
Hala
I think, they should punish this man and make an example out of him. Man supports man in this world. In Iran woman has no rights. This young lady is asking for her rights according to Islam. The one who throw acid at her, should be punished and maybe hanged. In Iran people are okay with being gay,which is against islam. They should be okay with punishing this man by throwing acid on his face or sentence him to death.
Ps. I am not Iranian,but I feel sorry for women in Iran, India and Pakistan.
The guilty party should be punished by serving time in prison and paying a financial settlement over a period of 10 years or so whereby the woman could get some type of plastic surgery to repair the damage he caused. Just as sexual offenders are registered, a registry should be established naming such men who commit violence against women so that possible wives and their families, employers and neighbors know who these so-called men are. In the back of my mind, a beat down in the public square seems appropriate, but violence does not serve anyone so it is my hope that the courts accept the guilty party’s appeal and put him in jail and provide the woman with some type of rehabilitation and renumeration for her pain and suffering.
the islamic law of eye for an eye should be followed by entire world. these punisment should be carried in public as well so that the others should not not even think of doing such things
Salam Alaikom all brothers and sisters,
Well its really shocking me to hear about what happened to that poor lady and no matter how can I imagine how she feels and how she thinks right now with regard to her future !!! well its horrible even to think about it, yeah I’m against violence but I thought what will happen if this happened to me or my wife or my sister !!! Have anyone just thought about this for a second?!
Dear brothers and sisters put yourselves in this lady’s shoes and then think what you gonna do if this happened to your sister, wife or mother?!
I can imagine now her family and friends are very sympathized and supporting her but soon life will keep everyone busy and she will be left alone to deal with her situation !!!
An eye for an eye is the least thing that could be done for such man and even though it might be cruel but this should be done in public so it would be exemplar for anyone with weak mind who may think to do something as I’m sure he will give it a real second thought.
Dear lady out there, and for all ladies out there who have been physically abused by people who called themselves men I can’t tell you how sorry I’m for what happened to you as you simply represent women in my life as mother, sister, wife and I know that this won’t cure you but just to know that there are many of us out there who would do anything for you.
This behavior is really shows how weak that man was and he shouldn’t be even called a man as man’s definition is not measure by muscles, or mucho or whatever but measured by his actions and how he use his power to shelter and protect his sisters and brothers no matter what religion they are
Hossam – Egypt
i agree with “eye for an eye” punishment literally. Show this as an example that people can’t just do whatever they want to do to a person…
I am a Muslim and eye for an eye is true, however I have learned in my life that when you can forgive, you are showing mercy as my God does which brings us closer to Him. Forgiving also brings the other person closer to God. Think of the statement she could be making if she chose to forgive! Almost all the books in the Qu’ran start out with In the name of God,Allah, The Compassionate,The Merciful.
I hope peace comes to this poor woman.
Maryam
There s no excuse for the punishment to the Criminal. The person, who threw Acid on the woman, must be given Examplinary punishment for the quantun of the Crime. He should be punished for the loss of her eyes. We don’t support for an Eye for an Eye.
Muslims & Non-Muslims must understnd the teaching of Holy Quran. Although Allah is very Strong in Punishment, He is also very, very Kind & Merciful to us. So we need to be Kind & Passionate to the Criminals too. To deter the Criminals, we need to give some Examplinary Punishment So the future Acid thrower doesn’t dare to repeat the same. He may be given rigorous imprisonment for some years. If he repents for his crime & beg Mercy to Allah ( we call taobah), he may be freed after some time. However, he must be watched by the Government.
If the victim can forgive and than may Allah reward he. but if not, i beleive he should be punished in the same manner. he did not think twice about what he was doing to her. If this becomes standard punishment i doubt anyone would do it. Going ot jail, paying money no big deal, having acid splashed in your face….hmm maybe the next guy will just move one and find another girl who will marry him.
assalamu alaiku
In Islam ALLAH’S laws are final. We try to obey all of ALLAH’S laws.not select which one we will obey.ALLAH is the best knower
Assalamu alaikum, Beloveds
Alhamdulillah. Allahu Akbar.
We need to remember to read the Revelations of the Holy Qur’an in the proper context. We cannot take 5:45 without considering what was said in 5:44. When we do that, first of all, we see clearly that 5:45 is speaking in reference to what Allah (SWT) revealed to the Hebrews in the Taurat.
Moreover, a complete citing of 5:45 says (an interpretation of),”But whoso forgoes it (the application of the law cited in 5:44), it (forgiving the wrong done and not calling for the allowed punishment)shall be an expiation (an atonement for his wrong-doing) for him.”
Allah (SWT) further reveals in 42:40(an interpretation of), “And the recompense of evil is punishment like it; but whoever forgives and amends, his reward is with Allah. Surely He loves not the wrong-doers.”
While it may make the Sister “feel better” to have the Brother punished according to the Law, it would be better if she for gave him and found her reward with Allah (SWT).
I think an eye for an eye is the best rule which can be used here and must be used in public as given in one of the other comments so that any in human person who thinks that he is a man and has the right to do whatever he wants should get to know that if he do anything he is going to deserver the same fate as his victim has.
And its doesn’t matter how much barbaric it may seem to one it is already given that its was the wish of the lady and there is also the act to forgive but personally i don’t think that forgiving or death would be of any use to these people they must have fear and fear of one living a life without vision or without a face which has been horribly destroyed is more than being dead as death is nothing but another journey.
“an eye for an eye” wont make the whole world blind,instead it will protect the the evil doers to think about the punishment what he will get if he commits the sinn…that where the islamic shariah had proved successfull,even its only practicing in two countries…
I completely agree with the “eye for an eye” rule. I agree this sub-man (and i say sub-man because in my eyes he is not a REAL man)should pay for his crimes, he knew what he was doing and it seems to me this act was pre-meditated. I am not a Muslim, but i do share similar beliefs, and i do believe he should get what he deserves – which in this case would be ACID THROWN IN HIS FACE!!!! When you start bending the rules you create more crime. I’m sure he will be punished by Allah as he sees fit, however, i would think that the best thing for this poor girls future is to, in fact, forgive him at least in her own heart.. If she does not forgive, she will carry bad feelings with her into her death, and that is not what a peaceful existance is all about.
Gandhi said that “an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.” What do you think?
Though Gandhi is a great leader of his time but if you buy his idealogy of “Aahinsa” I am afraid if not whole world but at leat one who not response in a tit for tat manner will surely be blind sooner or later.
The Shariah law is most just and ideal and those against the Shariah law would realize it when they themselves are confronted with what these victims are going through.
[We ordained therein for them: "Life for life, eye for eye, nose for nose, ear for ear, tooth for tooth, and wounds equal for equal." But if anyone remits the retaliation by way of charity, it is an act of atonement for himself. And if any fail to judge by (the light of) what Allah hath revealed, they are (no better than) wrong-doers.] (Qur’an 5:45)
Another disgusting act. How can people believe in “eye for an eye” yeah you may all sit here and argue with me and tell me im wrong but i bet that NONE of you have taken the time to think about what happens if a man is sentenced to this law for a crime he did not commit? you are hurting a man who may have not done anything wrong and was simply at the wrong place at the wrong time. There are so many cases of that happening so what happens if you send a man to death then you find out he was innocent? the judge should be sentenced to death as well yet that never seems to happen, its a disgusting vicious circle that never stops. You yell at a man for committing a crime then you turn around and commit the exact same crime. Where do any of you people see that as justice? Im all for letting people spend the rest of their lives in jail but im not for taking or harming another life. Im catholic, and im pretty sure god did not tell people to go and hurt his children, instead he told people to forgive and let go even when he was being tortured himself he forgave people. Its sick and twisted, and for all you who believe in that your just as sick as this law.