Sister Ghada Khafaji

1. AN EYE FOR AN EYE
By Ghada Khafaji
Some people believe that Jesus Christ came with love to end the barbarism in the
world but that this is not the case with Muhammad. Didn't Jesus say: "Love your
enemies" while Muhammad fought his enemies? (PAUSE) One thing that seems to be
different between the teachings of Jesus and Muhammad is the Law that Muhammad
brought, known as the Islamic Shari'ah Law. In this article we will tackle only one
specific point in this Law: (PAUSE) an eye for an eye.
In the Old Testament, in the Book of Exodus (pronunciation: eg-ze-des), chapter 21,
we read that whoever kills or injures another, then the penalty is life for life, an eye
for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound,
bruise for bruise.
Some say that Jesus Christ came to end these harsh punishments of the Old Testament
and bring love to the world unlike Muhammad whose book, the Qur'an, reinforces
these practices once again and so would be pulling the world backward rather than
forward. But is this true? Isn't the eye for an eye part of the words of God in the Old
Testament? Can we say that God's Law is cruel? Was God harsh and then He became
merciful? Does God change? According to the Bible, God does not change. We read
in the Book of Malachi (pronunciation: malekai), chapter 3, verse 6:
Quote: I the LORD do not change. End of quote.
Now let's examine some of what Jesus said in his Sermon on the Mount in the Gospel
of Matthew, chapter 5. (PAUSE) Jesus said:
Quote: Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to
destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one
jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever
therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall
be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall
be called great in the kingdom of heaven….
You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever
murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ But I say to you that whoever is angry
with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment….
You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I
say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed
adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast
it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for
your whole body to be cast into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it
off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members
perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell….

2. You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell
you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the
other to him also. End of quote.
The Sermon on the Mount consists of the most important teachings of Jesus Christ.
But how can Jesus be saying that not one jot will pass from the Law till all is fulfilled,
and then instead of reinforcing an eye for an eye, he tells people to turn the other
cheek to those who slap them? Isn't this contradictory? The answer is no, just try to
understand it through the Qur'an not through the words of Paul who is considered by
some historians and current biblical scholars to be the founder of the present day
Christianity. Paul (PAUSE), who never met Jesus Christ and who even – according to
the book of Acts, chapter 26 – tortured and killed many of his followers said in
Romans, chapter 7:
Quote: For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long
as he lives. But if the husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband. So
then if, while her husband lives, she marries another man, she will be called an
adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law, so that she is no
adulteress, though she has married another man. Therefore, my brethren, you also
have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to
another: to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God. For
when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at
work in our members to bear fruit to death. But now we have been delivered from the
law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of
the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter. End of quote.
He also said in Romans, chapter 3, verse 28:
Quote: For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law.
End of quote.
According to what Jesus Christ said in his sermon, Paul broke the commandments and
“taught men so” earning the position of “the least in the kingdom of heaven.” Now
let's examine what the Qur'an, the book believed by Muslims to be the actual words of
God revealed to Prophet Muhammad, says regarding this matter. We read in the
Qur'an, chapter 5, verses 44 to 48 the following words:
Quote: Indeed, We did reveal the Torah, wherein was guidance and a light, by which
the prophets who submitted to God judged the Jews, as did the rabbis and scholars by
that with which they were entrusted of the Scripture of God, and they were witnesses
thereto. So do not fear people but fear Me, and do not exchange My verses for a small
price (i.e., worldly gain). And whoever judges not by that which God has revealed:
such are the disbelievers.
And We ordained for them therein a life for a life, an eye for an eye, a nose for a
nose, an ear for an ear, a tooth for a tooth, and for wounds is legal retribution. But
whoever gives up his/her right as charity, it shall be expiation for him/her. And
whoever judges not by that which God has revealed: such are the wrongdoers.
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3. And We caused Jesus, the son of Mary, to follow in their footsteps, confirming that
which came before him in the Torah; and We gave him the Gospel, wherein was
guidance and a light, confirming that which preceded it of the Torah and as guidance
and instruction for the righteous.
Let the People of the Gospel judge by that which God has revealed therein. And
whoever judges not by that which God has revealed: such are the defiantly
disobedient.
And to you (Muhammad) have We revealed the Book (i.e., the Qur'an) with the truth,
confirming that which preceded it of the Scripture and as a criterion over it. So judge
between them by that which God has revealed and do not follow their inclinations
away from what has come to you of the truth. To each of you We prescribed a law
and a method. Had God willed, He would have made you one nation (united in
religion), but (He intended) to test you in what He has given you; so race to (all that
is) good. To God is your return all together, and He will (then) inform you
concerning that over which you used to differ. End of quote.
In chapter 42 of the Qur’an, verse 40 we read:
Quote: And the retribution for an evil act is one like it, but whoever pardons and
makes reconciliation – his reward is (due) from God. Indeed, He does not like
wrongdoers. End of quote.
In chapter 16, verse 126 we read:
Quote: And if you punish (an enemy), punish with an equivalent of that with which
you were harmed. But if you resort to patience (instead of revenge), it would be better
for the patient ones. End of quote.
The message of forgiving others is repeated over and over in the Qur'an. In chapter 3,
verses 133 and 134 we read:
Quote: And hasten to forgiveness from your Lord and for a Paradise as wide as the
heavens and the earth, prepared for those who are pious: those who spend (in good
cause) during ease and hardship, those who control their anger, and are forgiving
toward people; God loves the doers of good. End of quote.
An eye for an eye, therefore, exists in the Islamic Shari'ah Law alongside with the
option to forgive those who transgress against us, and we learn through the Qur'an
that forgiveness is better for those who forgive in this life and in the Hereafter.
Now just imagine yourself going home one day and opening the door of your house to
find your loved ones murdered and mutilated. The police catch the murderer and the
death penalty is not applied because it is barbaric or cruel. The murderer spends years
in prison eating food that you yourself pay for (through taxes) and you might even
end up as a drug addict or an alcoholic. Is this fair? Will this deter others from
committing crimes?
In some Islamic countries where the Law is enforced, the scenario would be different.
They will bring the murderer to be executed in front of you and if you wish you could
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4. stop the execution by forgiving the murderer. You are given the chance to forgive
willingly. Which scenario is better for you?
According to the Qur’an, chapter 2, verse 179, the aim of God's Law, is not to kill but
to prevent murder. These harsh punishments are to deter murderers, criminals and
rapists and make them think twice before they commit such crimes. Just compare the
crime rates in countries where the Law is enforced with those elsewhere.
Now go back to the Sermon on the Mount in your Bible in the Gospel of Matthew,
chapter 5 and read the words of Jesus Christ in context. What was the message he was
trying to convey to the Israelites?
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