Why did Allah specifically address the Children of Israel in the verse: "Because of that, We decreed upon the Children of Israel that whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption [done] in the land - it is as if he had slain mankind entirely. And whoever saves one - it is as if he had saved mankind entirely. And our messengers had certainly come to them with clear proofs. Then indeed many of them, after that, throughout the land, were transgressors"?

The interpretation of the verse, "Because of that, We decreed upon the Children of Israel..." from Surah Al-Ma'idah, begins by explaining that "Because of that" refers to the murder that occurred in the story of Adam's two sons. It was decreed upon the Children of Israel – the people of the heavenly scriptures – that "whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption [done] in the land - it is as if he had killed all of mankind. And whoever saves one - it is as if he had saved all of mankind."

Killing is permissible in two cases: retribution for an unjust killer, or in the case of one who spreads corruption in the land.

There are various interpretations for the simile comparing one who kills a single soul to one who kills all of mankind. These include: that both are disobedient to Allah and violate His command; that they are equal in deserving the taking of a life; and in daring to shed forbidden blood; and that the killer is called a killer by killing one soul just as he is called one by killing all people; and that believers are like one body, so damaging one part of it is like damaging the entire body.

As for the specific mention of the Children of Israel, it has been said: because their book was the first book in which Allah revealed the rulings, or to warn that they excessively shed blood unjustly, or because envy was prevalent among them, leading them to underestimate the crime of murder.