Surah al-Mā’idah

In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy.

[Surah al-Mā’idah (5): verse 2]

“O you who believe, do not violate the sanctity of Allah’s rites, the sacred month, the sacrificial animals, the garlanded offerings, or those heading for the Sacred House, seeking their Lord’s bounty and pleasure. Once you have left the state of pilgrimage consecration, you may hunt. Do not let hatred of a people for having barred you from the Sacred Mosque lead you to transgress. Cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is severe in punishment.” (2)

Each of these two terms, when used alone, includes the other. Every sin is aggression, since it involves doing what Allah has forbidden or neglecting what Allah has commanded, and thus violates His commands and prohibitions. Every act of aggression is also a sin, since its perpetrator incurs sin through it. When mentioned together, however, they have distinct meanings according to what each concerns.

Sin concerns acts that are forbidden in themselves, such as lying, unlawful sexual intercourse, drinking wine, and the like.

Aggression concerns what is forbidden because of its extent and excess. It consists in going beyond what is permitted to a forbidden degree, as when someone exceeds the bounds in exacting his due from another, whether by encroaching upon that person’s property, person, or honour. If someone usurps a piece of timber from him, he will accept nothing less than that person’s house in compensation. If someone destroys something belonging to him, he destroys many times as much in return. If someone speaks a word against him, he responds with many times as much. All this is aggression and an overstepping of the bounds of justice.