“When two people exchange insults, the blame for what they say rests upon the one who began, so long as the wronged party does not overstep the bounds.”

This is called defending oneself. Insults containing no falsehood include mentioning a person’s actual faults, calling him a dog or a donkey, and the like. If, however, someone fabricates a lie against another, the latter may not fabricate a lie against him in return. If someone unjustly declares him a disbeliever or an evildoer, he may not unjustly declare the other a disbeliever or an evildoer in return. Likewise, if the offender curses his father, tribe, fellow townspeople, or the like, he may not retaliate against such people, for they have not wronged him.

Allah Most High says:

“O you who believe, stand firm for Allah as witnesses in justice, and do not let hatred of a people lead you to be unjust. Be just; that is nearer to righteousness.”

Thus, Allah commands Muslims not to let their hatred of the disbelievers lead them to act unjustly. He says:

“Be just; that is nearer to righteousness.”

If an affront to someone’s honor is forbidden because it violates his right, owing to the hurt it causes him, retaliation in kind is permissible—for example, supplicating against the offender as he supplicated against him. But if it is forbidden because it violates Allah Most High’s right, as with lying, it is never permissible.

Many jurists have likewise said: If someone kills another by burning, drowning, strangling, or the like, the same is to be done to him, unless the act is forbidden in itself, such as forcing him to drink wine or committing sodomy against him.

Others have said: He may be executed in retaliation only by the sword. The former view accords more closely with the Quran, the Sunnah, and justice.