From this verse on, a series of Islamic commandments are discussed, the first of which is the guard and respect for blood of people. With a red line it crosses off and cancels all the customs of the blood feuds of the Days of Ignorance, saying: ``Retaliation is prescribed for you in cases of murder, free man for free man and slave for slave, and female for female.''

      The word `RETALIATION here signifies that the guardians of the murdered and the aggrieved party have a right to do the same with the murderers. It also lays the stress upon the justice and equality, saying that if you must take a life, take a free man for a free man, and a slave for a slave, and a woman for a woman. i.e. killing of the slave of a tribe should not involve a blood-feud where many free men would be killed. the doors of Mercy should always be kept open, because brotherly love and forgiveness is far better than taking vengeance. The Holy Book in this relation has:

      ``If any remission is made to anyone by his aggrieved brother; (GENERALLY ALL MEN ARE BROTHERS IN ISLAM) then grant any reasonable demand, and compensate him in kindliness and gratitude.'' Finally the verse threatens those who try to misuse the concession, and alleviation of the Merciful Lord, by exceeding the limits, thus:

      ``Then whoever exceeds the limits after that, for him is a painful penalty.''