RETALIATION IN THE BIBLE

      The retaliation is prescribed in the pentateuch as follows:-

      ``The punishment shall be life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, and bruise for bruise.''   EXODUS 21: 23-24

      In Leviticus 24: 18-21 the same Law is explained with more detail.

      In the Book of Deuternomy 19: 20 we read:- ``In such case SHOW NO MERCY, the punishment is to be, life for life, and eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a hand for a hand, and a foot for a foot.''

      Jesus Christ in the Book of Matthew 5: 38 modified the old law of Moses which consisted of SHOW NO MERCY in retaliation, in the direction of FULL MERCY, saying:-``You have heard that it was said; an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth; but now I tell you, do not revenge on someone who wrongs you. If any one slaps you on the right cheek, let him slap your left cheek too!''

      Between the two above extremes, of Moses saying:- `SHOW NO MERCY' and the saying of Jesus, `SHOW FULL MERCY', Mohammad S.A. has taken a very beautiful way between these two extremes in order to judge the criminals, saying:- ``There is life for you in retaliation; but if any one who has been injured, by way of charity and for the sake of God remits the retaliation, his remission shall atone for his sins in the sight of God.''

      This is why we Muslims believe that Islam is the most perfect one among the Divine Religions, and stands in the upper most class of what Allah has sent down to mankind, through His apostles so far.

TRANSLATOR'S NOTE)