(33) “Do not take a life that Allah has made sacred, except by right. If anyone is killed unjustly, We have given his heir authority; but let him not exceed the limits in taking life, for he is indeed supported.”

This encompasses every soul whose killing Allah has forbidden, whether young or old, male or female, free or enslaved, Muslim or a non-Muslim under covenant.

“Except by right,” such as a life for a life, an adulterer who has previously consummated a valid marriage, one who abandons his religion and separates from the community, and a rebel during his rebellion if he cannot be repelled except by being killed.

“If anyone is killed unjustly”—that is, without right—“We have given his heir,” meaning the nearest of his agnatic relatives and heirs, “authority”: a manifest legal authority to exact retribution from the killer. We have also granted him, by divine decree, the power to do so. This applies when the conditions requiring retribution are met, such as the killing being intentional and wrongful, and parity existing between the parties.

“But let not” the heir “exceed the limits in taking life, for he is indeed supported.” Exceeding the limits means going beyond what is permitted, whether by mutilating the killer, killing him by a method other than that by which he killed, or killing someone other than the killer.

This verse shows that the right to exact retribution belongs to the heir. Retaliation may therefore be carried out only with his permission, and if he grants pardon, the right of retaliation lapses.

It also shows that Allah aids the victim’s heir against the killer and anyone who assists the killer, until he is able to execute him.