Whoever Saves One Life: Surah Al-Ma'idah 5:32
سُورَةُ المَائـِدَةِ · Medinan · Verse 32 of 120
مِنْ أَجْلِ ذَٰلِكَ كَتَبْنَا عَلَىٰ بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ أَنَّهُۥ مَن قَتَلَ نَفْسًۢا بِغَيْرِ نَفْسٍ أَوْ فَسَادٍۢ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَكَأَنَّمَا قَتَلَ ٱلنَّاسَ جَمِيعًۭا وَمَنْ أَحْيَاهَا فَكَأَنَّمَآ أَحْيَا ٱلنَّاسَ جَمِيعًۭا ۚ وَلَقَدْ جَآءَتْهُمْ رُسُلُنَا بِٱلْبَيِّنَٰتِ ثُمَّ إِنَّ كَثِيرًۭا مِّنْهُم بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ لَمُسْرِفُونَ
Translation
On account of [his deed], We decreed to the Children of Israel that if anyone kills a person- unless in retribution for murder or spreading corruption in the land- it is as if he kills all mankind, while if any saves a life it is as if he saves the lives of all mankind. Our messengers came to them with clear signs, but many of them continued to commit excesses in the land.
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Al-Ma'idah 5:32 is discussed in 17 study guides on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
- Homicide (Qatl) (key verse)
- Life (Hayah)
- Revealed Scriptures (Al-Kutub al-Munazzalah)
- Brotherhood (Ukhuwwah)
- Extravagance (Israf)
- Children of Israel (Banu Isra'il)
- Intimidation (Tarhib)
- The Forbidden (Haram)
- Freedom (Hurriyyah)
- The Truth (Haqq)
- Dialogue (Hiwar)
- Loss (Khusran)
- Corruption (Fasad)
- Role Model (Qudwah)
- The Self (Nafs)
- Responsibility (Mas'uliyyah)
- Pardon (Afw)
Reflect on this verse
Open Surah Al-Ma'idah 5:32 in Maani to reflect on it through the Five Lenses: its wording, its context, what it means for you, its connections across the Quran and its lessons, grounded in classical tafsir.