According to search-discovered classical Islamic scholarship, the principle of the Sanctity of Life (Hurmat an-Nafs) is a cornerstone of Islamic law and ethics, articulated decisively in Surah Al-Isra, verse 17:33: "And do not kill the soul which Allah has made sacred, except by right." Ibn Kathir explains this verse as a divine declaration that every human life is inviolable by default, a sacred trust from the Creator. This prohibition is absolute and applies universally, forbidding murder, suicide, and any form of unlawful killing. Al-Qurtubi's analysis emphasizes that the exception, "except by right," is not a loophole but a strict legal condition referring to the due process of law (such as qisas, or just retribution for murder) administered solely by a legitimate state authority. The verse further establishes the rights of the victim's heir while simultaneously warning against exceeding the limits in retaliation, thus preventing cycles of vengeance. This synthesis establishes that Islam protects life absolutely, and the right to take it is reserved for God alone, delegated only through a just and formal legal process.