Killing A Human Being
Allah, the Almighty, says,
{If a man kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell, to abide therein (for ever); and the wrath
and curse of Allah are upon him, and a dreadful chastisement is prepared for him.}
(An-Nisa:93)
{Those who invoke not, with Allah, any other god, nor slay such life as Allah has made sacred, except for
just cause, nor commit fornication,' and any that does this (not only) meets punishment.}
(Al-Furqan:68)
{On that account: We ordained for the children of Israel that if anyone slew a person -unless it be for
murder 'or for spreading mischief in the land -it would be as if he slew the whole people.}
(AI- Ma'ida:32)
{When the female (infant), buried alive, is questioned -for what crime she killed.}
(Al- Takwir: 8-9)
The Prophet (pbuh) said,
"Avoid the seven heinous sins."
And he mentioned taking one's life which Allah has made sacred except in the course of justice.
It was related that someone asked the Prophet (pbuh),
"What is the most heinous sin in the sight of Allah?" The Prophet replied, "To hold that Allah has an equal
whereas He has created you." .The man asked, "What else?" The Prophet said, "To kill your child lest he
feeds with you." The man asked, "What else?" He said, "To commit adultery with your neighbor's wife.” 1
Therefore, Allah, the Almighty, revealed,
{Those who invoke not, with Allah, any other god, nor slay such life as Allah has made sacred, except for
just cause, nor commit fornication,. and any that does this (not only) meets punishment.}
(Al-Furqan:68)
It was related that the Messenger of Allah said,
"When two Muslims meet with drawn sword, both the slayer and the slain are in the Hell." It was said, "0
Messenger of Allah, that is for the slayer. But why the slain?" He replied, "Because his intention was to kill
the other.”2
Abu Suliman Al-Khitabi commented, "Such punishment does not apply to a legal and justifiable combat.
They entail this abode if they fight one another out of enmity, fanaticism, to acquire some worldly benefit
or a position of leadership. Thus, out of this pole is the one who fights against an aggressive Muslim if he
follows the rules of fighting and the one who defends himself without intending to kill the opponent.
1 Reported by Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmidhi and An- Nasa'i.
2 Reported by Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawud, An-Nisa'i, Ibn Majah and Ibn Hibban.
Whoever fights against an aggressive Muslim or a highway robber, should not seek to kill them. Rather he
should try to deter him as much as he can. When they refrain we should refrain. The Prophet (pbuh) said,
"You should not turn an unbeliever when I am no more (among you) and start killing and shedding blood
among yourselves.” 1
The Prophet (pbuh) said,
"The first thing among human beings to be adjudicated on the Day of Judgment, will be the blood claim.” 2
"Taking a believer's life is more grievous in Allah's sight than the perishing of this world.” 3
"The major sins are worshipping others with Allah, showing disrespect to parents, killing a human being,
and the breaking one's oath.”4
It is termed engulfing because it overwhelms its swearer in the Fire.
"For all the murders committed in this world without any justification, prophet Adam's son, Qabil will get
a share of punishment, because it was he who inaugurated the method of killing by murdering his brother
Habil.”5
If this is the abode of he who kills a covenant man then what about killing a Muslim?
The Prophet (pbuh) said,
"Whoever killed anyone of the people of the covenant will never get the aroma of paradise which can be
smelt from forty years away.”6
"Whoever helps in killing a Muslim even by just a part of a word, he will meet Allah with the written phrase
on his forehead "Despondent of Allah's Mercy.”7
"Every sin might be forgiven by Allah except for a man dying an unbeliever or a man killing a believer
deliberately.” 8
1 Reported before.
2 Reported by Bukhari and Muslim.
3 Reported by Bukhari and Muslim
4 Reported by Bukhari and Muslim
5 Reported by Bukhari and Muslim
6 Reported by Bukhari.
7 Reported by Ibn Majah. It is a weak Hadith.
{If a man kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell, to abide therein (for ever); and the wrath
and curse of Allah are upon him, and a dreadful chastisement is prepared for him.}
(An-Nisa:93)
{Those who invoke not, with Allah, any other god, nor slay such life as Allah has made sacred, except for
just cause, nor commit fornication,' and any that does this (not only) meets punishment.}
(Al-Furqan:68)
{On that account: We ordained for the children of Israel that if anyone slew a person -unless it be for
murder 'or for spreading mischief in the land -it would be as if he slew the whole people.}
(AI- Ma'ida:32)
{When the female (infant), buried alive, is questioned -for what crime she killed.}
(Al- Takwir: 8-9)
The Prophet (pbuh) said,
"Avoid the seven heinous sins."
And he mentioned taking one's life which Allah has made sacred except in the course of justice.
It was related that someone asked the Prophet (pbuh),
"What is the most heinous sin in the sight of Allah?" The Prophet replied, "To hold that Allah has an equal
whereas He has created you." .The man asked, "What else?" The Prophet said, "To kill your child lest he
feeds with you." The man asked, "What else?" He said, "To commit adultery with your neighbor's wife.” 1
Therefore, Allah, the Almighty, revealed,
{Those who invoke not, with Allah, any other god, nor slay such life as Allah has made sacred, except for
just cause, nor commit fornication,. and any that does this (not only) meets punishment.}
(Al-Furqan:68)
It was related that the Messenger of Allah said,
"When two Muslims meet with drawn sword, both the slayer and the slain are in the Hell." It was said, "0
Messenger of Allah, that is for the slayer. But why the slain?" He replied, "Because his intention was to kill
the other.”2
Abu Suliman Al-Khitabi commented, "Such punishment does not apply to a legal and justifiable combat.
They entail this abode if they fight one another out of enmity, fanaticism, to acquire some worldly benefit
or a position of leadership. Thus, out of this pole is the one who fights against an aggressive Muslim if he
follows the rules of fighting and the one who defends himself without intending to kill the opponent.
1 Reported by Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmidhi and An- Nasa'i.
2 Reported by Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawud, An-Nisa'i, Ibn Majah and Ibn Hibban.
Whoever fights against an aggressive Muslim or a highway robber, should not seek to kill them. Rather he
should try to deter him as much as he can. When they refrain we should refrain. The Prophet (pbuh) said,
"You should not turn an unbeliever when I am no more (among you) and start killing and shedding blood
among yourselves.” 1
The Prophet (pbuh) said,
"The first thing among human beings to be adjudicated on the Day of Judgment, will be the blood claim.” 2
"Taking a believer's life is more grievous in Allah's sight than the perishing of this world.” 3
"The major sins are worshipping others with Allah, showing disrespect to parents, killing a human being,
and the breaking one's oath.”4
It is termed engulfing because it overwhelms its swearer in the Fire.
"For all the murders committed in this world without any justification, prophet Adam's son, Qabil will get
a share of punishment, because it was he who inaugurated the method of killing by murdering his brother
Habil.”5
If this is the abode of he who kills a covenant man then what about killing a Muslim?
The Prophet (pbuh) said,
"Whoever killed anyone of the people of the covenant will never get the aroma of paradise which can be
smelt from forty years away.”6
"Whoever helps in killing a Muslim even by just a part of a word, he will meet Allah with the written phrase
on his forehead "Despondent of Allah's Mercy.”7
"Every sin might be forgiven by Allah except for a man dying an unbeliever or a man killing a believer
deliberately.” 8
1 Reported before.
2 Reported by Bukhari and Muslim.
3 Reported by Bukhari and Muslim
4 Reported by Bukhari and Muslim
5 Reported by Bukhari and Muslim
6 Reported by Bukhari.
7 Reported by Ibn Majah. It is a weak Hadith.
