It was also said concerning His words, “But let him not exceed the limits in taking life,” that this refers to the transgressing killer. That is, he must not exceed the limits by killing without legal right; for if he does so, the heir of the slain person is granted help by Me against him, through the enforcement of legal retaliation upon him.

“Do not approach the property of the orphan except in the best manner, until he reaches maturity. Fulfil your commitments, for every commitment will be questioned. Give full measure when you measure, and weigh with an accurate balance. That is better and best in outcome. And do not follow that of which you have no knowledge. Indeed, the hearing, the sight, and the heart—each of these will be questioned.” (34–36)

“Do not approach the property of the orphan except in the best manner, until he reaches maturity. Fulfil your commitments”: by carrying out what Allah has commanded and refraining from what Allah has forbidden. It was also said that “commitment” refers to what a person binds himself to do.

“For every commitment will be questioned.” Al-Suddi said: It will be demanded. It was also said: The commitment itself will ask about the one who made it, saying, “Why were you broken?” just as the infant girl buried alive will be asked, “For what sin was she killed?”

“Give full measure when you measure, and weigh with an accurate balance.” Hamzah, al-Kisa’i, and Hafs recited the word qisṭās with the letter qaf pronounced with an i-vowel, while the rest recited it with a u-vowel. Both are established linguistic forms. It means a scale, whether small or large—that is, a scale of justice. Al-Hasan said: It is the steelyard. Mujahid said: It is a Roman word. Others said: It is Arabic, derived from qisṭ, meaning justice; that is, weigh with upright justice.

“That is better and best in outcome”: that is, in consequence.

“And do not follow that of which you have no knowledge.” Qatadah said: Do not say, “I saw,” when you did not see; “I heard,” when you did not hear; or “I know,” when you do not know.

Mujahid said: Do not accuse anyone of something of which you have no knowledge.

Al-Qutaybi said: Do not pursue it through conjecture and assumption. In the language, it means following a trace. One says, “I followed so-and-so,” when one follows his tracks; and the rhyme-ending of a verse is called a qafiyah because of its following of the preceding traces.

Al-Qutaybi said: It is derived from qafā, “the back of the neck,” as though one follows matters from behind them; that is, in pursuing them, one follows and investigates them. (1)

The essential meaning is: Do not speak, O human being, on the basis of conjecture and assumption. (2)

“Indeed, the hearing, the sight, and the heart—each of these will be questioned.” It was said that its meaning is that a person will be questioned concerning his hearing, his sight, and his heart.