Chapter on Criminal Offences

Shaykh al-Islām—may Allah have mercy on him—was asked about retaliation in kind.

He replied:

Retaliation in kind is established among Muslims by the consensus of the Muslim community. A Hāshimite Muslim may exact retaliation from an Abyssinian Muslim, and an Abyssinian Muslim from a Hāshimite Muslim, in matters of bloodshed, property, honour, and other matters. Where retaliation for an affront to honour is permissible, a man may exact it.

Thus, if the Hāshimite says to him, “You dog!” he may reply, “You dog!” And if he says, “May Allah curse you!” he may reply, “May Allah curse you!” This is permissible and falls within the meaning of Allah Most High’s words:

“As for those who defend themselves after being wronged, there is no blame on them. Blame is only on those who wrong people and transgress in the land without right. They will have a painful punishment. But whoever is patient and forgives—indeed, that is a matter requiring firm resolve.”

However, if someone lies about him, he may not lie about that person in return. Likewise, if someone insults a man’s father, the latter may not insult his father in return, whether he is a Hāshimite or not, for the father of the one who uttered the insult