Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: Qisas (retaliation) for murder was made obligatory upon the Children of Israel, and there was no command for pardon among them. Then Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, said to this Ummah: ﴿Prescribed for you is legal retribution for those murdered—the free for the free, the slave for the slave, and the female for the female. But if any remission is made by the brother of the slain, then grant any reasonable demand and pay with good conduct.﴾ That is, qisas is obligatory, but the option of pardon has also been given, and pardon is that instead of taking qisas from the killer, blood money is accepted. «ذَلِكَ تَخْفِيفٌ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ» That is, compared to what was commanded to those before you, this is a concession from your Lord. «فَاتِّبَاعٌ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَأَدَاءٌ إِلَيْهِ بِإِحْسَانٍ» That is, the one who takes the blood money should demand it in a reasonable manner, and the one who pays should do so with kindness.