Friday, February 1, 2008

The Law of Retaliation in Bible versus Quran

By Dr. Ibrahim Khalil
The law of the Ox (bull) in the Bible

Kill the Ox
Kill the Owner of the Ox
The price of the life of male or female slave is 12 ounces of silver

If an ox gores a man or a woman to death,
• The ox shall surely be stoned to death
• And its flesh shall not be eaten;
• But the owner of the ox shall go unpunished.

If, however, an ox was previously in the habit of goring and its owner has been warned, yet he does not confine it and it kills a man or a woman,
• The ox shall be stoned to death
• And its owner also shall be put to death.

If the ox gores a male or female slave,
• The owner shall give his or her master thirty shekels of silver,
• And the ox shall be stoned to death.

Thirty shekels of silver equal about 12 ounces or 342 grams in weight
This means that the price of the life of male or female slave is 12 ounces of silver!
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The three verses of the Law of the Ox in different versions of the Bible

Exodus 21:28, 29 and 32

New American Standard Bible

28] "If an ox gores a man or a woman to death, the ox shall surely be stoned and its flesh shall not be eaten; but the owner of the ox shall go unpunished.
29] "If, however, an ox was previously in the habit of goring and its owner has been warned, yet he does not confine it and it kills a man or a woman, the ox shall be stoned and its owner also shall be put to death.
32] "If the ox gores a male or female slave, the owner shall give his or her master thirty shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned.

King James Version

28] If an ox gores a man or a woman that they die: then the ox shall be surely stoned, and his flesh shall not be eaten; but the owner of the ox shall be quit.
29] But if the ox were wont to push with his horn in time past, and it hath been testified to his owner, and he hath not kept him in, but that he hath killed a man or a woman; the ox shall be stoned, and his owner also shall be put to death.
32] If the ox shall push a manservant or a maidservant; he shall give unto their master thirty shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned.
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The law of the Ox (Bull) in the Noble Quran

There is no specific Law for the Ox and/or the Owner of the Ox in the Noble Quran!

However, the two verses 2:178-179 give a general Law in cases of murder

Verse 2:178 says:
O you who believe, the Law of retaliation is prescribed for you on equal terms, regarding the slain, both in the attributes [of the one slain] and in the action involved;
In the matter of the murdered ones;
a free man, is killed, for a free man,
and a slave for a slave,
and a female for a female
a life for a life
The freeman for the freeman, a freeman who premeditatedly kills another freeman And the slave for the slave, a slave who premeditatedly kills another,
And the female for the female, a female who premeditatedly kills another
A life for a life, this is the Law
And for him who is forgiven somewhat by his brother,
Whoever forgives the killing and takes instead blood money,
Allah commands the person who asks for blood money to claim this money according to practiced usage: three years if it is full blood money, two years if it is half of the blood money, or one year if it is a third (and payment unto him)
The person who is required to pay blood money is commanded to give the custodians of the murdered person what is due to them (in kindness) without the need to go to court or making it difficult for them.
This pardon is alleviation, appeasement and a mercy from your Lord towards the killer such that he is not killed.
He who transgresses after this, after taking the blood money and kills the murderer will have a painful doom; he shall be killed and will not be forgiven or allowed to pay blood money.
And verse 2:179 says:
And there is a life for you in the law of retaliation
a continuation of existence and a lesson,
O men of understanding, those who possess sound minds among people,
that you may ward off (evil))
that you may ward off killing one another for fear of retaliation

Chapter 2: AL-BAQARA 178 and 179


﴿178﴾ o ye who believe! the law of retaliation (equality) is prescribed to you in cases of murder: the free for the free, the slave for the slave, the woman for the woman. but if any remissions are made by the brother of the slain, then grant any reasonable demand, and compensate him with handsome gratitude, this is a concession and a mercy from your lord. after this whoever exceeds the limits shall be in grave penalty.
﴿179﴾ in the law of retaliation (equality) there is (saving of) life to you, o ye men of understanding; that ye may restrain yourselves.

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What if the Quran was the Book which commands to kill 1) the Uncircumcised, 2) who curses his parents, 3) the gay, 4) the Zoosexual and the Beast, 5) who works in the Sabbath! 6) Your brother, your son, etc. if they try to turn you away from the LORD and 7) all who live in that town, 8) the prophet and 9) all the Midianites, men, women and boys and 10) the Ox, and the owner. What if the Quran says that the Price of the Life of a human being is 12 Ounces of Silver?
What the Western Media would have said? What names they have given the Quran in such case?
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Back to the main issue of my series of articles; this is my question to you smart readers: "Is the Quran quoted from the Bible?"


About the author:
Professor Dr. Ibrahim Khalil
Prof. of Clinical and Chemical Pathology,
Head of Clinical Microbiology and Infection Control Unit,
Ain-Shams University., Egypt.
And, President of The Egyptian Society of Inventors.
Member of the Egyptian union of Writers


Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com

Thursday, January 31, 2008

Do I Need A DUI Lawyer?

By Russel Esquibel
You’ve been arrested on a DUI charge. Now what do you do? Although most people will recommend that you hire a lawyer to represent your best interests many people do not do so, often because of shame and embarrassment. Whether or not you hire a lawyer can have a big impact on your case so you may want to think carefully before making a decision. If you do decide to hire a DUI lawyer there are several things to consider so that you find the best lawyer possible to represent you...

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

How are Documents Authenticated in Civil Lawsuits

by Manuel Salvacion

Documents such as records, letters, bills, contracts, and similar writing form part of evidence in many lawsuits. In court, the best evidence rule requires that when a document is offered as evidence, the original document or writing has to be produced and submitted. To be admitted as evidence, a document has to be properly identified or authenticated.

In dealing with documentary evidence, the following things must be considered:

• Parole evidence – This is a principle in the common law of contracts which presumes that a written contract embodies the complete agreement between parties. As a rule, it forbids the introduction of ‘extrinsic’ information or external communication between parties, other than what is contained in the document.

• Best evidence – The issue in documentary evidence is competency, Hence, the best evidence rule in documents means the ‘the best and topmost form of evidence that can be produced for verification’.

• Authentication

• Hearsay – Based on legal definition, hearsay is evidence not proceeding from the personal knowledge of the witness, but is from the mere repetition of what he has heard others say.

What is Authentication?

Authentication is a rule that requires evidence to be sufficient to support a finding that the matter in question is what its proponent claims. This means that evidence must be proven genuine to be admissible.

Both parties in a trial can authenticate documentary evidence in much the same way as it can authenticate other real evidence. These are the common methods of document authentication:

• A witness, who is present during the signing of the document, can identify and attest to the existence of the document.

• A non-expert witness who is familiar with the handwriting or signature of the person, who signed the document, can also testify.


• An expert, a document examiner, who can compare handwriting samples and give his opinion regarding the document

• By so-called “trier of fact,” in which the jury or the judge would compare a known example of a signature with the signature on a disputed document

• Records of business transactions can be identified and authenticated by the custodian of the records.

• Certified copies of public records, official documents, and newspapers are self-authenticating documents that do not require outside authentication to be admitted as court evidence.

• Ancient documents also do not require outside authentication to be used as evidence. When presented with a corroborating circumstances or possession, ancient documents can be admitted as evidence in a trial.

Written documents when presented as evidence in courts are called documentary evidence. They form part of the basis for the resolution of cases.

However, certain documents do not require validation to be considered as original documents. Self-authenticating documents or documents that do not require outside authentication are the following:

1. acknowledge documents to prove receipt of such

2. some commercial paper and related documents

3. certificates of business records

4. certified copies of public records

5. newspapers

6. official documents

7. periodicals

8. trade inscriptions

Why Document Authentication is Necessary

If properly authenticated, documents can provide the courts the necessary information and help a judge or jury evaluate a case. Proper documents also provide resolution of the issue under question. In civil litigations, documentary evidence is an important part in determining the outcome of a case.


For more information about civil litigations, consult with competent California Attorney Services.

About the author
Before becoming an online writer, Manuel worked as a journalist, a newspaper columnist, a scriptwriter, a fiction writer, a magazine editor, and a tutor. He acquired his legal background as a Senate legislative officer and later on, as a researcher and paralegal staff in various law offices. Someday, he hoped to go back and devote more time to writing fiction, which is his first passion.

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