Tafsir of Al-Ma'idah 5:29

Al-Ma'idah (The Table Spread): Verse 29

"I intend that you should bear the sin of my sin and your sin..."

The First Question: How is it conceivable that the killer bears the sin of the one killed, especially since the Almighty has said: {Nor shall a bearer of burdens bear the burden of another} (Fatir: 18)?

The Answer is twofold:

1. Interpretation 1: Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him), Ibn Mas'ud, Al-Hasan, and Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with them) said: Its meaning is: "You will bear the sin of killing me, and the sin that you committed before killing me." This interpretation involves omitting a word (i.e., an implied word).
2. Interpretation 2: Al-Zajjaj said: Its meaning is: "You will return to Allah (with the burden of your sin)." So, why did He say: {I intend that you should bear my sin and your sin}?

The Answer to the Second Part of the Question (regarding the phrasing):

The answer is in several aspects:

1. Contextual Understanding: We have previously mentioned that this speech occurred between them when the one to be killed suspected that the killer intended to kill him, and this was before the killer committed the act. It is as if, upon receiving the admonition and advice, the victim said to him: "If you are not deterred from this great sin by this advice, then you must lie in wait to kill me at a time when I am heedless of you and unable to defend myself. In that case, I cannot prevent you from killing me except by initiating the killing myself based merely on suspicion and assumption. This act on my part would be a great sin and transgression. If the choice is between me committing this transgression or you committing it, I prefer that this great sin befall you rather than me." It is known that desiring the commission of a sin by another in this specific situation and under this condition is not forbidden; rather, it is the very essence of obedience and pure sincerity.

2. The Second Aspect: What is meant is: "I intend that you bear the punishment for killing me." There is no doubt that the oppressed person is permitted to wish for God's punishment upon his oppressor.

3. The Third Aspect (Narration): It is narrated that if the oppressor does not find anything on the Day of Resurrection to satisfy his opponent (the victim), some of the victim's bad deeds will be taken and placed upon the oppressor. Based on this, it is permissible to say: "I intend that you bear my sin (in the sense that it will be placed upon you on the Day of Judgment if you do not find what satisfies me) and your sin (for killing me)." This serves as a valid answer to the first question, and Allah knows best.

Then the Almighty said:

{So his soul made fair to him the killing of his brother, and he killed him, and became one of the losers.}