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What is the criterion in the principle of "tit for tat" that differentiates between the permissibility of mutilating the corpses of disbelievers in response to their actions, and the impermissibility of raping their women in response to their actions? And what is the general rule for applying it?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

The correct principle in Islam is the permissibility of retaliation in kind, as long as it is not forbidden in our religion, based on the Almighty's saying: "Then whoever transgresses against you, transgress against him in like measure as he transgressed against you. And fear Allah," and His saying: "And if you punish [an aggressor], punish with an equivalent of that with which you were harmed," and His saying: "The recompense for an evil deed is an evil deed like it." These verses permit taking what is equivalent to the injustice without exceeding limits. However, if the aggression involves something forbidden by religious law, such as rape, sodomy, or sorcery, then retaliation in kind is not permissible, because Allah does not love the wrongdoers.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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