Just Retaliation (Qiṣāṣ)

Abstract

Qiṣāṣ under Islamic law applies to a murderer who kills with the intention to kill or to cause grievous bodily injury. Issues addressed in this chapter relate to how qiṣāṣ is often said to be obsolete, that it is juristically classified as a private law matter, and that a certain gap has developed between scripture and juristic doctrine and whether any reforms may be needed to the law of qiṣāṣ.