4:93 An-Nisaa (The Women)

تقدم أن الله أخبر أنه لا يصدر قتل المؤمن من المؤمن، وأن القتل من الكفر العملي، وذكر هنا وعيد القاتل عمدا، وعيدا ترجف له القلوب وتنصدع له الأفئدة، وتنزعج منه أولو العقول. فلم يرد في أنواع الكبائر أعظم من هذا الوعيد، بل ولا مثله، ألا وهو الإخبار بأن جزاءه جهنم، أي: فهذا الذنب العظيم قد انتهض وحده أن يجازى صاحبه بجهنم، بما فيها من العذاب العظيم، والخزي المهين، وسخط الجبار، وفوات الفوز والفلاح، وحصول الخيبة والخسار. فعياذًا بالله من كل سبب يبعد عن رحمته. وهذا الوعيد له حكم أمثاله من نصوص الوعيد، على بعض الكبائر والمعاصي بالخلود في النار، أو حرمان الجنة. وقد اختلف الأئمة رحمهم الله في تأويلها مع اتفاقهم على بطلان قول الخوارج والمعتزلة الذين يخلدونهم في النار ولو كانوا موحدين. والصواب في تأويلها ما قاله الإمام المحقق: شمس الدين بن القيم رحمه الله في \"المدارج\" فإنه قال - بعدما ذكر تأويلات الأئمة في ذلك وانتقدها فقال: وقالت فِرقَة: هذه النصوص وأمثالها مما ذكر فيه المقتضي للعقوبة، ولا يلزم من وجود مقتضي الحكم وجوده، فإن الحكم إنما يتم بوجود مقتضيه وانتفاء موانعه. وغاية هذه النصوص الإعلام بأن كذا سبب للعقوبة ومقتض لها، وقد قام الدليل على ذكر الموانع فبعضها بالإجماع، وبعضها بالنص. فالتوبة مانع بالإجماع، والتوحيد مانع بالنصوص المتواترة التي لا مدفع لها، والحسنات العظيمة الماحية مانعة، والمصائب الكبار المكفرة مانعة، وإقامة الحدود في الدنيا مانع بالنص، ولا سبيل إلى تعطيل هذه النصوص فلا بد من إعمال النصوص من الجانبين. ومن هنا قامت الموازنة بين الحسنات والسيئات، اعتبارًا بمقتضي العقاب ومانعه، وإعمالا لأرجحها. قالوا: وعلى هذا بناء مصالح الدارين ومفاسدهما. وعلى هذا بناء الأحكام الشرعية والأحكام القدرية، وهو مقتضى الحكمة السارية في الوجود، وبه ارتباط الأسباب ومسبباتها خلقا وأمرا، وقد جعل الله سبحانه لكل ضد ضدا يدافعه ويقاومه، ويكون الحكم للأغلب منهما. فالقوة مقتضية للصحة والعافية، وفساد الأخلاط وبغيها مانع من عمل الطبيعة، وفعل القوة والحكم للغالب منهما، وكذلك قوى الأدوية والأمراض. والعبد يكون فيه مقتض للصحة ومقتض للعطب، وأحدهما يمنع كمال تأثير الآخر ويقاومه، فإذا ترجح عليه وقهره كان التأثير له. ومِنْ هنا يعلم انقسام الخلق إلى مَنْ يدخل الجنة ولا يدخل النار، وعكسه، ومَنْ يدخل النار ثم يخرج منها ويكون مكثه فيها بحسب ما فيه من مقتضى المكث في سرعة الخروج وبطئه. ومن له بصيرة منورة يرى بها كل ما أخبر الله به في كتابه من أمر المعاد وتفاصيله، حتى كأنه يشاهده رأي عين. ويعلم أن هذا هو مقتضي إلهيته سبحانه، وربوبيته وعزته وحكمته وأنه يستحيل عليه خلاف ذلك، ونسبة ذلك إليه نسبة ما لا يليق به إليه، فيكون نسبة ذلك إلى بصيرته كنسبة الشمس والنجوم إلى بصره. وهذا يقين الإيمان، وهو الذي يحرق السيئات، كما تحرق النار الحطب، وصاحب هذا المقام من الإيمان يستحيل إصراره على السيئات، وإن وقعت منه وكثرت، فإن ما معه من نور الإيمان يأمره بتجديد التوبة كل وقت بالرجوع إلى الله في عدد أنفاسه، وهذا من أحب الخلق إلى الله. انتهى كلامه قدس الله روحه، وجزاه عن الإسلام والمسلمين خيرا.

ومن "يقتل مؤمنا متعمدا فجزاؤه جهنم" قال: إن الرجل إذا عرف الإسلام وشرائع الإسلام ثم قتل مؤمنا متعمدا فجزاؤه جهنم ولا توبة له فذكرت ذلك لمجاهد فقال إلا من ندم. حدثنا ابن حميد وابن وكيع قالا حدثنا جرير عن يحيى الجابري عن سالم بن أبي الجعد قال كنا عند ابن عباس بعدما كف بصره فأتاه رجل فناداه يا عبدالله بن عباس ما ترى في رجل قتل مؤمنا متعمدا ؟ فقال جزاؤه جهنم خالدا فيها وغضب الله عليه ولعنه وأعد له عذابا عظيما. قال أفرأيت إن تاب وعمل صالحا ثم اهتدى ؟ قال ابن عباس ثكلته أمه وأنى له التوبة والهدى؟ والذي نفسي بيده لقد سمعت نبيكم صلى يقول "ثكلته أمه قاتل مؤمن متعمدا جاء يوم القيامة أخذه بيمينه أو بشماله تشخب أوداجه من قبل عرش الرحمن يلزم قاتله بشماله وبيده الأخرى رأسه يقول يا رب سل هذا فيم قتلني " وايم الذي نفس عبدالله بيده لقد أنزلت هذه الآية فما نسختها من آية حتى قبض نبيكم صلى الله عليه وآله وسـلم وما نزل بعدها من برهان. وقال الإمام أحمد حدثنا محمد بن جعفر حدثنا شعبة سمعت يحيى بن المجيز يحدث عن سالم بن أبي الجعد عن ابن عباس أن رجلا أتي إليه فقال أرأيت رجلا قتل رجلا عمدا ؟ فقال "جزاؤه جهنم خالدا فيها 9 الآية. قال لقد نزلت من آخر ما نزل ما نسخها شيء حتى قبض رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم وما نزل الوحي بعد رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال أرأيت إن تاب وآمن وعمل صالحا ثم اهتدى قال وأنى له بالتوبة وقد سمعت رسول الله صلى يقول " ثكلته أمه رجل قتل رجلا متعمدا يجيء يوم القيامة آخذا قاتله بيمينه أو بيساره أو آخذا رأسه بيمينه أو بشماله تشخب أوداجه دما من قبل العرش يقول يا رب سل عبدك فيم قتلني " وقد رواه النسائي عن قتيبة وابن ماجه عن محمد بن الصباح عن سفيان بن عينة عن عمار الذهبي ويحيى الجابري وثابت الثمالي عن سالم بن أبي الجعد عن ابن عباس فذكره وقد روى هذا عن ابن عباس من طرق كثيرة وممن ذهب إلى أنه لا توبة له من السلف زيد بن ثابت وأبو هريرة وعبدالله بن عمر وأبو سلمه بن عبدالرحمن وعبيد بن عمير والحسن وقتادة والضحاك بن مزاحم نقله ابن أبى حاتم وفي الباب أحاديث كثيرة فمن ذلك ما رواه أبو بكر بن مردويه الحافظ في تفسيره حدثنا دعلج بن أحمد حدثنا محمد بن إبراهيم بن سعيد البوشنجي "ح" وحدثنا عبدالله بن جعفر وحدثنا إبراهيم بن فهد قالا حدثنا عبيد بن عبيدة حدثنا معتمر بن سليمان عن أبيه عن الأعمش عن أبن عمرو بن شرحبيل بإسناده عن عبدالله بن مسعود عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال " يجيء المقتول متعلقا بقاتله يوم القيامة أخذا رأسه بيده الأخرى فيقول يا رب سل هذا ضيم قتلني ؟ قال فيقول قتلته لتكون العزة لك فيقول فإنها لي قال ويجيء أخر متعلقا بقاتله فيقول رب سل هذا قيم قتلني؟ قال فيقول قتلته لتكون العزة لفلان قال فإنها ليست له بؤ بإثمه قال فيهوى في النار سبعين خريفا " وقد رواه النسابي عن إبراهيم بن المستمر العوفي عن عمرو بن عاصم عن معتمر بن سليمان به " حديث آخر "قال الإمام أحمد: حدثنا صفوان بن عيسى حدثنا ثور بن يزيد عن أبي عون عن أبي إدريس قال سمعت معاوية رضي الله عنه يقول: سمعت النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول " كل ذنب عسى الله أن يغفره إلا الرجل يموت كافرا أو الرجل يقتل مؤمنا متعمدا ". وكذا رواه النسائي عن محمد بن المثنى عن صفوان بن عيسى به وقال ابن مردويه حدثنا عبدالله بن جعفر حدثنا سمويه حدثنا عبدالأعلى بن مسهر حدثنا صدقة بن خالد حدثنا خالد بن دهقان حدثنا ابن زكريا قال: سمعت أم الدرداء تقول سمعت أبا الدرداء يقول: سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول " كل ذنب عسى الله أن يغفره إلا من مات مشركا أو من قتل مؤمنا متعمدا " وهذا حديث غريب جدا من هذا الوجه. والمحفوظ حديث معاوية المتقدم فالله أعلم. ثم روى ابن مردويه من طريق بقية بن الوليد عن نافع بن يزيد حدثني ابن جبير الأنصاري عن داود بن الحصين عن نافع عن ابن عمر عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال " من قتل مؤمنا متعمدا فقد كفر بالله عز وجل " وهذا حديث منكر أيضا فإسناده تكلم فيه جدا. قال الإمام أحمد حدثنا النضر حدثنا سليمان بن المغيرة حدثنا حميد قال: أناني أبو العالية أنا وصاحب لي فقال لنا: هلما فأنتما أشب سنا مني ; وأوعى للحديث مني فانطلق بنا إلى بشر بن عاصم فقال له أبو العالية حدث هؤلاء حديثك فقال: حدثنا عقبة بن مالك الليثي قال: بعث رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم سرية فأغارت على قوم فشد مع القوم رجل فاتبعه رجل من السرية شاهرا سيفه فقال الشاد من القوم إني مسلم فلم ينظر فيما قال قال: فضربه فقتله فنمى الحديث إن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فقال فيه قولا شديدا فبلغ القاتل فبينا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم يخطب إذ قال القاتل: والله ما قال الذي قال إلا تعوذا من القتل قال فأعرض رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم عنه وعمن قبله من الناس وأخذ في خطبته ثم قال أيضا يا رسول الله ما قال الذي قال إلا تعوذا من القتل فأعرض عنه وعمن قبله من الناس وأخذ في خطبته ثم لم يصبر حتى قال الثالثة والله يا رسول الله ما قال الذي قال إلا تعوذا من القتل فأقبل عليه رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم تعرف المساءة في وجهه فقال " إن الله أبى على من قتل مؤمنا" ثلاثا. ورواه النسائي من حديث سليمان بن المغيرة والذي عليه الجمهور من سلف الأمة وخلفها أن القاتل له توبة فيما بينه وبين الله عز وجل فإن تاب وأناب وخشع وخضع وعمل عملا صالحا بدل الله سيئاته حسنات وعوض المقتول من ظلامته وأرضاه عن طلابته قال الله تعالى "والذين لا يدعون مع الله إلها آخر- إلى قوله - إلا من تاب وآمن وعمل عملا صالحا" الآية. وهذا خبر لا يجوز نسخه وحمله على المشركين وحمل هذه الآية على المؤمنين خلاف الظاهر ويحتاج حمله إلى دليل والله أعلم. وقال تعالى "قل يا عبادي الذين أسرفوا على أنفسهم لا تقنطوا من رحمة الله" الآية وهذا عام في جميع الذنوب من كفر وشرك وشك ونفاق وقتل وفسق وغير ذلك كل من تاب أي من ذلك تاب الله عليه قال الله تعالى "إن الله لا يغفر أن يشرك به ويغفر ما دون ذلك لمن يشاء" فهذه الآية عامة في جميع الذنوب ما عدا الشرك وهي مذكورة في هذه السورة الكريمة بعد هذه الآية وقبلها لتقوية الرجاء والله أعلم. وثبت في الصحيحين خبر الإسرائيلي الذي قتل مائة نفس ثم سأل عالما هل لي من توبة فقال: ومن يحول بينك وبين التوبة ثم أرشده إلى بلد يعبد الله فيه فهاجر إليه فمات في الطريق فقبضته ملائكة الرحمة كما ذكرناه غير مرة وإذا كان هذا في بني إسرائيل فلأن يكون في هذه الأمة التوبة مقبولة بطريق الأولى والأخرى لأن الله وضع عنا الآصار والأغلال التي كانت عليهم وبعث نبينا بالحنيفية السمحة. فأما الآية الكريمة وهي قوله تعالى "ومن يقتل مؤمنا متعمدا" الآية. فقد قال أبو هريرة وجماعة من السلف هذا جزاؤه إن جازاه وقد رواه ابن مردويه بإسناده مرفوعا من طريق محمد بن جامع العطار عن العلاء بن ميمون العنبري عن حجاج الأسود عن محمد بن سيرين عن أبي هريرة مرفوعا ولكن لا يصح ومعنى هذه الصيغة أن هذا جزاؤه إن جوزي عليه وكذا كل وعيد على ذنب لكن فد يكون ذلك معارض من أعمال صالحة تمنع وصول ذلك الجزاء إليه على قولي أصحاب الموازنه والإحباط وهذا أحسن ما يسلك في باب الوعيد والله أعلم بالصواب وبتقدير دخول القاتل في النار أما على قول ابن عباس ومن وافقه أنه لا توبة له أو على قول الجمهور حيث لا عمل له صالحا ينجو به فليس بمخلد فيها أبدا بل الخلود هو المكث الطويل وقد تواترت الأحاديث عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم " أنه يخرج من النار من كان في قلبه أدنى مثقال ذرة من إيمان " وأما حديث معاوية " كل ذنب عسى الله أن يغفره إلا الرجل يموت كافرا أو الرجل يقتل مؤمنا متعمدا " فعسى للترجي فإذا انتفى الترجي في هاتين الصورتين لا تنفي وقوع ذلك في أحدهما وهو القتل لما ذكرنا من الأدلة وأما من مات كافرا فالنص أن الله لا يغفر له البتة وأما مطالبة المقتول القاتل يوم القيامة فإنه حق من حقوق الآدمين وهي لا تسقط بالتوبة ولكن لابد من ردها إليهم ولا فرق بين المقتول والمسروق منه والمغصوب منه والمقذوف وسائر حقوق الآدمين فإن الإجماع منعقد على أنها لا تسقط بالتوبة ولكنه لابد من ردها إليهم في صحة التوبة فإن تعذر ذلك فلابد من المطالبة يوم القيامة لكن لا يلزم من وقوع المطالبة وقوع المجازاة إذ قد يكون للقاتل أعمال صالحة تصرف إلى المقتول أو بعضها ثم يفضل له أجر يدخل به الجنة أو يعوض الله المقتول بما يشاء من فضله من قصور الجنة ونعيمها ورفع درجته فيها ونحو ذلك والله أعلم ثم لقاتل العمد أحكام في الدنيا وأحكام في الآخرة ; فأما في الدنيا فتسلط أولياء المقتول عليه قال الله تعالى ومن قتل مظلوما فقد جعلنا لوليه سلطانا الآية. ثم هم مخيرون بين أن يقتلوا ; أو يعفوا أو يأخذوا دية مغلظة أثلاثا - ثلاثون حقة وثلاثون جذعة وأربعون خلفة كما هو مقرر في كتاب الأحكام واختلف الأئمة هل تجب عليه كفارة عتق رقبة أو صيام شهرين متتابعين أو إطعام على أحد القولين كما تقدم في كفارة الخطأ على قولين فالشافعي وأصحابه وطائفة من العلماء يقولون نعم يجب عليه لأنه إذا وجبت عليه الكفارة في الخطأ فلأن تجب عليه في العمد أولى فطردوا هذا في كفارة اليمين الغموس واعتذروا بقضاء الصلاة المتروكة عمدا كما أجمعوا على ذلك في الخطأ. وأصحاب الإمام أحمد وآخرون: قتل العمد أعظم من أن يكفر فلا كفارة فيه وكذا اليمين الغموس ولا سبيل لهم إلى الفرق بين هاتين الصورتان وبين الصلاة المتروكة عمدا فإنهم يقولون بوجوب قضائها إذا تركت عمدا وقد احتج من ذهب إلى وجوب الكفارة في قتل العمد بما رواه الإمام أحمد حيث قال: حدثنا عامر بن الفضل حدثنا عبدالله بن المبارك عن إبراهيم بن أبي عبلة عن الغريف بن عياش عن واثلة بن الأسقع قال: أتى النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم نفر من بني سليم فقالوا إن صاحبا لنا قد أوجب قال " فليعتق رقبة يفدي الله بكل عضو منها عضوا منه من النار" وقال أحمد حدثنا إبراهيم بن إسحاق حدثنا ضمرة بن ربيعة عن إبراهيم بن أبي عبلة عن الغريف الديلمي قال: أتينا واثلة بن الأسقع الليثي فقلنا حدثنا حديثا سمعته من رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: أتينا رسول الله صلى اله عليه وسلم في صاحب لنا قد أوجب فقال " أعتقوا عنه يعتق الله بكل عضو منه عضوا منه من النار " وكذا رواه أبو داود والنسائي من حديث إبراهيم بن أبي عبلة به ولفظ أبي داود عن الغريف بن الديلمي قال: أتينا واثلة بن الأسقع فقلنا له حدثنا حديثا ليس فيه زيادة ولا نقصان فغضب فقال: إن أحدكم ليقرأ ومصحفه معلق في بيته فيزيد وينقص قلنا إنما أردنا حديثا سمعته من رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم. قال أتينا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم في صاحب لنا قد أوجب يعني النار بالقتل فقال " أعتقوا عنه يعتق الله بكل عضو منه عضوا منه من النار ".

The Ruling Concerning Killing a Believer by Mistake

Allah states that the believer is not allowed to kill his believing brother under any circumstances. In the Two Sahihs, it is recorded that Ibn Mas`ud said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,

«لَا يَحِلُّ دَمُ امْرِىءٍ مُسْلِمٍ يَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلهَ إِلَّا اللهُ، وَأَنِّي رَسُولُ اللهِ، إِلَّا بِإِحْدَى ثَلَاثٍ: النَّفْسُ بِالنَّفْسِ، وَالثَّيِّبُ الزَّانِي، وَالتَّارِكُ لِدِينِهِ الْمُفَارِقُ لِلْجَمَاعَة»

(The blood of a Muslim who testifies that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and that I am the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, is sacred, except in three instances. (They are:) life for life, the married adulterer, and whoever reverts from the religion and abandons the Jama`ah (community of the faithful believers).) When one commits any of these three offenses, it is not up to ordinary citizens to kill him or her, because this is the responsibility of the Muslim Leader or his deputy. Allah said,

إِلاَّ خَطَئاً

(except by mistake). There is a difference of opinion concerning the reason behind revealing this part of the Ayah. Mujahid and others said that it was revealed about `Ayyash bin Abi Rabi`ah, Abu Jahl's half brother, from his mother's side, Asma' bint Makhrabah. `Ayyash killed a man called Al-Harith bin Yazid Al-`Amiri, out of revenge for torturing him and his brother because of their Islam. That man later embraced Islam and performed Hijrah, but `Ayyash did not know this fact. On the Day of the Makkan conquest, `Ayyash saw that man and thought that he was still a disbeliever, so he attacked and killed him. Later, Allah sent down this Ayah. `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam said that this Ayah was revealed about Abu Ad-Darda' because he killed a man after he embraced the faith, just as Abu Ad-Darda' held the sword above him. When this matter was conveyed to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, Abu Ad-Darda' said, "He only said that to avert death." The Prophet said to him,

«هَلَّا شَقَقْتَ عَنْ قَلْبِه»

(Have you opened his heart) The basis for this story is in the Sahih, but it is not about Abu Ad-Darda'. Allah said,

وَمَن قَتَلَ مُؤْمِناً خَطَئاً فَتَحْرِيرُ رَقَبَةٍ مُّؤْمِنَةٍ وَدِيَةٌ مُّسَلَّمَةٌ إِلَى أَهْلِهِ

(and whosoever kills a believer by mistake, he must set free a believing slave and submit compensation (blood money) to the deceased's family) thus, ordaining two requirements for murder by mistake. The first requirement is the Kaffarah (fine) for the great sin that has been committed, even if it was a mistake. The Kaffarah is to free a Muslim slave, not a non-Muslim slave. Imam Ahmad recorded that a man from the Ansar said that he brought a slave and said, "O Messenger of Allah! I have to free a believing slave, so if you see that this slave is a believer, I will free her." The Messenger of Allah ﷺ asked her,

«أَتَشْهَدِينَ أَنْ لَا إِلهَ إِلَّا اللهُ؟»

(Do you testify that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah) She said, "Yes." He asked her,

«أَتَشْهَدِينَ أَنِّي رَسُولُ اللهِ؟»

(Do you testify that I am the Messenger of Allah) She said, "Yes." He asked,

«أَتُؤْمِنِينَ بِالْبَعْثِ بَعْدَ الْمَوْتِ؟»

(Do you believe in Resurrection after death) She said, "Yes." The Prophet said,

«أَعْتِقْهَا»

(Then free her.) This is an authentic chain of narration, and not knowing the name of the Ansari Companion does not lessen its authenticity. Allah's statement,

وَدِيَةٌ مُّسَلَّمَةٌ إِلَى أَهْلِهِ

(and submit compensation (blood money) to the deceased's family) is the second obligation which involves the killer and the family of the deceased, who will receive blood money as compensation for their loss. The compensation is only obligatory for the one who possesses one of five; as Imam Ahmad, and the Sunan compilers recorded from Ibn Mas`ud. He said; "Allah's Messenger ﷺ determined that the Diyah (blood money) for unintentional murder is twenty camels which entered their fourth year, twenty camels which entered their fifth year, twenty camels which entered their second year, and twenty camels which entered their third year." This is the wording of An-Nasa'i. This Diyah is required from the elders of the killer's tribe, not from his own money. In the Two Sahihs, it is recorded that Abu Hurayrah said, "Two women from Hudhayl quarreled and one of them threw a stone at the other and killed her and her unborn fetus. They disputed before the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and he decided that the Diyah of the fetus should be to free a male or a female slave. He also decided that the Diyah of the deceased is required from the elders of the killer's tribe." This Hadith indicates that in the case of what appears to be intentional murder, the Diyah is the same as that for killing by virtual mistake. The former type requires three types of Diyah, just like intentional murder, because it is somewhat similar to intentional murder. Al-Bukhari recorded in his Sahih that `Abdullah bin `Umar said, "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent Khalid bin Al-Walid to Banu Jadhimah and he called them to Islam, but they did not know how to say, `We became Muslims.' They started saying, `Saba'na, Saba'na (we became Sabians). Khalid started killing them, and when this news was conveyed to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, he raised his hands and said,

«اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَبْرَأُ إِلَيْكَ مِمَّا صَنَعَ خَالِد»

(O Allah! I declare my innocence before You of what Khalid did.) The Messenger ﷺ sent `Ali to pay the Diyah of those who were killed and to compensate for the property that was destroyed, to the extent of replacing the dog's bowl. This Hadith indicates that the mistake of the Leader or his deputy (Khalid in this case) is paid from the Muslim Treasury. Allah said,

إِلاَّ أَن يَصَّدَّقُواْ

(unless they remit it), meaning, the Diyah must be delivered to the family of the deceased, unless they forfeit their right, in which case the Diyah does not become necessary. Allah's statement,

فَإِن كَانَ مِن قَوْمٍ عَدُوٍّ لَّكُمْ وَهُوَ مْؤْمِنٌ فَتَحْرِيرُ رَقَبَةٍ مُّؤْمِنَةٍ

(If the deceased belonged to a people at war with you and he was a believer, the freeing of a believing slave (is prescribed);) means, if the murdered person was a believer, yet his family were combatant disbelievers, then they will receive no Diyah. In this case, the murderer only has to free a believing slave. Allah's statement,

وَإِن كَانَ مِن قَوْمٍ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَهُمْ مِّيثَاقٌ

(and if he belonged to a people with whom you have a treaty of mutual alliance,) meaning, if the family of the deceased were from Ahl Adh-Dhimmah or with whom there is a peace treaty, then they deserve his Diyah; full Diyah if the deceased was a believer, in which case the killer is required to free a believing slave also.

فَمَن لَّمْ يَجِدْ فَصِيَامُ شَهْرَيْنِ مُتَتَابِعَيْنِ

(And whoso finds this beyond his means, he must fast for two consecutive months) without breaking the fast (in the days of) the two months. If he breaks the fast without justification, i.e. illness, menstruation, post-natal bleeding, then he has to start all over again. Allah's statement,

تَوْبَةً مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَلِيماً حَكِيماً

(to seek repentance from Allah. And Allah is Ever All-Knowing, All-Wise.) means, this is how the one who kills by mistake can repent, he fasts two consecutive months if he does not find a slave to free.

وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَلِيماً حَكِيماً

(And Allah is Ever All-Knowing, All-Wise), we mentioned the explanation of this before.

Warning Against Intentional Murder

After Allah mentioned the ruling of unintentional murder, He mentioned the ruling for intentional murder. Allah said,

وَمَن يَقْتُلْ مُؤْمِناً مُّتَعَمِّداً

(And whoever kills a believer intentionally,) This Ayah carries a stern warning and promise for those who commit so grave a sin that it is mentioned along with Shirk in several Ayat of Allah's Book. For instance, in Surat Al-Furqan, Allah said,

وَالَّذِينَ لاَ يَدْعُونَ مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَـهَا ءَاخَرَ وَلاَ يَقْتُلُونَ النَّفْسَ الَّتِى حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ إِلاَّ بِالْحَقِّ

(And those who invoke not any other god along with Allah, nor kill such person as Allah has forbidden, except for just cause). Allah said,

قُلْ تَعَالَوْاْ أَتْلُ مَا حَرَّمَ رَبُّكُمْ عَلَيْكُمْ أَلاَّ تُشْرِكُواْ بِهِ شَيْئاً

(Say: "Come, I will recite what your Lord has prohibited you from: Join not anything in worship with Him.) 6:151. There are many Ayat and Hadiths that prohibit murder. In the Two Sahihs, it is recorded that Ibn Mas`ud said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,

«أَوَّلُ مَا يُقْضَى بَيْنَ النَّاسِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فِي الدِّمَاء»

(Blood offenses are the first disputes to be judged between the people on the Day of Resurrection. ) In a Hadith that Abu Dawud recorded, `Ubadah bin As-Samit states that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,

«لَا يَزَالُ الْمُؤْمِنُ مُعْنِقًا صَالِحًا، مَا لَمْ يُصِبْ دَمًا حَرَامًا، فَإِذَا أَصَابَ دَمًا حَرَامًا بَلَّح»

(The believer will remain unburdened in righteousness as long as he does not shed prohibited blood. When he sheds forbidden blood, he will become burdened.) Another Hadith, states,

«لَزَوَالُ الدُّنْيَا أَهْوَنُ عِنْدَ اللهِ مِنْ قَتْلِ رَجُلٍ مُسْلِم»

(The destruction of this earthly life is less significant before Allah than killing a Muslim man (or woman).)

Will the Repentance of those who Commit Intentional Murder, be Accepted

Ibn `Abbas held the view that the repentance of one who intentionally murders a believer, will not be accepted. Al-Bukhari recorded that Ibn Jubayr said, "The people of knowledge of Al-Kufah differed on this subject, I traveled to Ibn `Abbas to ask him about it. He said, `This Ayah,

وَمَن يَقْتُلْ مُؤْمِناً مُّتَعَمِّداً فَجَزَآؤُهُ جَهَنَّمُ

(And whoever kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell) was the last revealed on this subject and nothing abrogated it."' Muslim and An-Nasa'i also recorded it. However, the majority of scholars of the earlier and later generations said that the killer's repentance can be accepted. If he repents, and goes back to Allah humbly, submissively, and performing righteous deeds, then Allah will change his evil deeds into good deeds and compensate the deceased for his loss by rewarding him for his suffering. Allah said, R

وَالَّذِينَ لاَ يَدْعُونَ مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَـهَا ءَاخَرَ

(And those who invoke not any other god along with Allah), until,

إِلاَّ مَن تَابَ وَءَامَنَ وَعَمِلَ عَمَلاً صَـلِحاً

(Except those who repent and believe, and do righteous deeds). The Ayah we just mentioned should not be considered abrogated or only applicable to the disbelievers who become Muslim, for this contradicts the general, encompassing indications of the Ayah and requires evidence to support it. Allah knows best. Allah said,

قُلْ يعِبَادِىَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُواْ عَلَى أَنفُسِهِمْ لاَ تَقْنَطُواْ مِن رَّحْمَةِ اللَّهِ

(Say: "O My servants who have transgressed against themselves! Despair not of the mercy of Allah). This Ayah is general, covering all types of sins, including Kufr, Shirk, doubt, hypocrisy, murder, sin, and so forth. Therefore, everyone who repents sincerely from any of these errors, then Allah will forgive him. Allah said,

إِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يَغْفِرُ أَن يُشْرَكَ بِهِ وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَلِكَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ

(Verily, Allah forgives not that partners should be set up with Him (in worship), but He forgives except that (anything else) to whom He wills). This Ayah is general and includes every sin except Shirk, and it has been mentioned in this Surah, both after this Ayah and before it, in order to encourage hope in Allah, and Allah knows best. It is confirmed in the Two Sahihs, that an Israeli killed one hundred people then he asked a scholar, "Is it possible for me to repent" So he replied, "What is there that would prevent you from repentance" So he told him to go to another land where Allah was worshipped. He began to emigrate to it but died on the way, and the angel of mercy was the one to take him. Although this Hadith is about an Israeli, it is even more suitable for the Muslim community that their repentance be accepted. Indeed, Allah relieved Muslims from the burdens and restrictions that were placed on the Jews, and He sent our Prophet with the easy Hanifiyyah way (Islamic Monotheism). As for the honorable Ayah,

وَمَن يَقْتُلْ مُؤْمِناً مُّتَعَمِّداً

(And whoever kills a believer intentionally), Abu Hurayrah and several among the Salaf said that this is his punishment, if Allah decides to punish him. And this is the case with every threat that is issued for every sin. For instance, there could be good deeds that this person has done that would prevent him from being punished for that, and Allah knows best. Even if the murderer inevitably enters the Fire -- as Ibn `Abbas stated because his repentance was not accepted, or he did not have good deeds to save him, he will not remain there for eternity, but only for a long time. There are Mutawatir Hadiths stating that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,

«إِنَّهُ يَخْرُجُ مِنَ النَّارِ مَنْ كَانَ فِي قَلْبِهِ أَدْنَى ذَرَّةٍ مِنْ إِيمَان»

(Whoever has the least speck of faith in his heart shall ultimately depart the Fire.)

And whoever slays a believer deliberately intending to kill him with something that is lethal aware of the fact that he the slain is a believer his requital is Hell abiding therein and God is wroth with him and has cursed him He has removed him from His mercy and has prepared for him a mighty chastisement in the Fire this may be explained as referring to the person that deems such killing licit or as being his requital if he were to be requited but it would not be anything new if this threat of punishment were to be forgone because of what He says Other than that that is idolatry He forgives whomever He will Q. 448. It is reported from Ibn ‘Abbās that it the verse should be understood as it stands abrogating other verses of ‘forgiveness’. The verse in sūrat al-Baqara Q. 2178 clearly indicates that the one who kills deliberately should be killed in return or if he is pardoned then he has to pay the blood-money the value of which has already been mentioned. It is made clear in the Sunna that between the intentional and the unintentional there is a type of killing that is identified as being with quasi-deliberate intent shibh al-‘amd where the killer has slain with what in most cases is not a lethal implement. In such a case there is no right to retaliation and blood-money is paid instead so that it this type of killing is described as intentional but considered unintentional in that there applies the fixing of the period for payment and the sharing of the burden by the killer’s clan; in this case and that of intentional killing redemption is more urgent than in unintentional killing.

Commentary

Sequence of Verses

Linked with earlier verses dealing with fighting and killing, all forms of killing, in the first instance, are eight in number because the person killed is covered by one of the four conditions which follow. Either, he is a Muslim; or, he is a Dhimmi (a free, protected, non-Muslim resident of a Muslim state); or, he is beneficiary of a peace pact and has been assured of the protection of his life, property, honour and religion; or, he is a belligerent disbeliever. Then, killing is of two types: intentional, or accidental. Thus, we see that there are only eight possible forms of killing:

1. The intentional killing of a Muslim.

2. The accidental killing of a Muslim.

3. The intentional killing of a Dhimmi.

4. The accidental killing of a Dhimmi.

5. The intentional killing of a person with whom there was a pact of peace.

6. The accidental killing of a peace pact beneficiary.

7. The intentional killing of a belligerent disbeliever.

8. The accidental killing of a belligerent disbeliever.

Injunctions covering some of these situations have appeared earlier; some find mention later, and some others are contained in hadith. Thus, the injunction relating to the first situation enforceable in this life, that is, the obligatory duty of taking 'even retaliation' (qisas) from him finds mention in Surah al-Baqarah and the injunction applicable to the Hereafter follows a little later in verse 93 beginning with: وَمَن يَقْتُلْ (And whoever kills....). The second situation appears in Verse 92 from وَمَا كَانَ لِمُؤْمِنٍ (It is not for a believer to kill any believer) to وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَتَحْرِ‌يرُ‌ رَ‌قَبَةٍ مُّؤْمِنَةٍ. (and if he i.e., victim was a believer...). The injunction covering the third situation appears in a hadith from Darqutni where the Holy Prophet ﷺ has been reported to have subjected a Muslim to 'even retaliation' (qisas) to compensate a Dhimmi (non-Muslim resident of a Muslim state) (اَخرَجَہ الزیلعی فی تَخرِیج الھدایہ) The injunction for the fourth situation appears also in verse 92: وَإِن كَانَ مِن قَوْمٍ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَهُم مِّيثَاقٌ; (and if he is from the people with whom you have a peace treaty). The fifth situation has already been taken up in verse 90 of the previous section under: فَمَا جَعَلَ اللَّـهُ لَكُمْ عَلَيْهِمْ سَبِيلًا (then Allah has not made it permissible for you). The injunction governing the sixth situation has been mentioned alongwith the one relating to the fourth situation because the peace covenant is general and covers the permanent and the temporary both. Thus, it includes Dhimmi and Musta'min both, l irrespective of their permanent or time-bound guarantee of peace and protection. (A1-durr-al-Mukhtar Kitab al-diyat)

1. Salam : the word prescribed by Islam for greeting, i.e. Assalamu ` alaiykum...

The injunction relating to situations 7 and 8 is already evident from the very legalization of Jihad itself which has appeared earlier (86) because belligerent disbelievers are killed intentionally. If killed accidentally, its justification will stand proved in a higher degree. (Bayan al-Qur'an)

Three kinds of homicide and their respective injunctions

1. Qatl al-Amad (Intentional Killing) which is done with obvious intention by a weapon made from iron or is like a steel weapon in its ability to cut off parts, such as, a sharp-edged bamboo or a sharp-edged piece of rock and things like that.

2. Qatl Shibh al-Amad (Quasi-Intentional Killing) which is, no doubt, done intentionally - but, not with a weapon which could cut off parts.

3. Qatl al-Khata (Accidental Killing). It can happen under intention and conjecture when someone aims at a man taking him to be land game or belligerent disbeliever. Or, it can happen actually when one did aim at land game but ended up striking a man down. Here, Khata or accident means intentional. So, this covers the second and the third kind both. Both entail the obligation to pay diyah (blood money), and sin as well. But, the two kinds do differ in the later two consequences. The diyah in the second kind of killing is 100 camels of four types, that is, 25 of each type. The diyah of the third kind of killing is also 100 camels, but it has to be of five types, that is, 20 of each type. However, if diyah is paid in cash, the amount to be realized is ten thousand dirham or one thousand dinar. This holds good for both kinds. However, the second kind is more sinful because of the intention of killing while it is lesser in the third kind because it is the result of simple heedlessness (as in Hidayah). As such, the obligatory nature of فَتَحْرِ‌يرُ‌ رَ‌قَبَةٍ (to free a slave) and the word, taubah (repentance) in the verse 92 support this position. The fact is that the ground reality of these three kinds is conditioned by Islamic laws as promulgated in the mortal world. As for their being intentional or non-intentional in terms of their being sinful, it depends on the volition of the heart and the intention to commit the act. The punishment due against such sin is known to Allah alone. According to His knowledge these terms, the first kind may become non-intentional; and the second, intentional.

1. Dhimmi is a non-Muslim person permanently and legally living in an Islamic state while Musta'min is a non-Muslim who lawfully enters an Islamic state for temporary stay (Muhammad Taqi Usmani)

Rulings

1. The amount of diyah (blood money) mentioned above applies to a male homicide victim. In case of a woman, it is half of it. (as in Hidayah).

2. The diyah of a Muslim and Dhimmi is equal. The Holy Prophet ﷺ has said: دیۃ کل ذی عھد فی عھدہ الف دینار (Marasil of Abu Dawud, as quoted by Hidayah).

.3. Kaffarah (expiation) in the form of freeing a slave or fasting has to come from the killer himself. As for diyah (blood money), it is the responsibility of those who are his caretakers. In the terminology of the Shari’ ah, they are known as اَلعاقلہ : al-'Aqilah, those responsible for paying blood money.

Let there be no doubt at this point as to why the burden of a crime committed by the killer should be transferred to his guardians and supporters while they are innocent. The reason is that the guardians of the killer are not totally faultless in this case. Their shortcoming is that they did not take necessary steps to stop him from venturing into such gross heedlessness against human life. Moreover, the fear of having to pay blood money, it is likely, will make them take all necessary precautions in the future so that such recklessness does not repeat itself.

4. In the act of freeing a slave (Kaffarah: Expiation), a bondman and a bondwoman are equal. The Qur'anic word Raqabah, denoting a slave, is general. However, their physique should be sound and they should not be deformed in any way.

5. The diyah of the person killed shall be distributed as part of the inheritance determined by the Shari’ ah. A legal heir who forgives his share will cause the diyah to be forgiven upto the limit of his share. If all legal heirs forgive it, the whole diyah will stand forgiven.

6. The diyah of a person killed who has no legal heir as recognized by the Shari’ ah will be retired to the Bayt al-Mal (State Treasury) because diyah is inheritance and inheritance is governed by this very ruling. (Bayan al-Qur'an)

7. As for people bound by a mutual covenant, be they Dhimmis, free non-Muslim citizens of a Muslim country; or, the Musta'min, (those given guarantee of peace for a temporary period of time) the diyah obligatory in their case is valid only when people belonging to that Dhimmi or Musta'min are present. If they have no such people, or such people be Muslims, then, given the fact that a Muslim cannot inherit from a disbeliever, this diyah, therefore, shall be deemed as non-existent. Thus, should he be a Dhimmi, his diyah shall be retired into the Bayt al-Mal because the inheritance of a heirless Dhimmi - which includes diyah - goes to the Bayt al-Mal (as in al-Durr al-Mukhtar); otherwise, it will not be obligatory (Bayan al-Qur'an).

8. If continuity is broken in fasting due to sickness or some other reason, then, one will have to fast afresh. But, for a woman, this continuity will not be deemed as broken because of her menstruation.

9. If, for some valid excuse, one does not have the strength to fast, then, he should keep repenting until his strength returns.

10. In intentional killing, there is no provision for this Kaffarah

(expiation); one should repent. (Sayan a1-Qur'an)

(Whoso slayeth a believer of set purpose�) [4:93]. Said Ibn �Abbas, according to the report of al-Kalbi from Abu Salih: �Maqis ibn Subabah, who was Muslim, found his brother Hisham murdered at Banu�l-Najjar. He went to the Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and give him peace, and mentioned what had happened to him. The Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and give him peace, sent with him an emissary from Banu Fihr and said to him: �Go to Banu�l-Najjar, greet them with the greeting of peace and say to them: �The Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and give him peace, commands you, if you know the killer of Hisham ibn Subabah, to hand him over to his brother to exact his retaliation; and if you do not know the killer, to pay him the blood money�. �The man from Fihr conveyed to them the message of the Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace, and they said: �We hear and obey Allah and His Messenger. By Allah, we do not know who the killer is, but we are willing to pay the blood money�. They gave him one hundred camels and they headed toward Medina. When they were very close to Medina, the devil whispered to Miqyas: �What have you done? Your acceptance of your brother�s blood money will be a slur on you. Kill the person who is with you and it would be as if you have avenged your brother in surplus of the blood money�. Miqyas did just that. He fractured the skull of the man from Fihr with a rock, rode a camel and drove away the rest to Mecca. He went back to Mecca as a disbeliever. Through him I avenged Fihr and charged his blood-wit To the chiefs of Banu�l-Najjar, the lords of Fari� castle. By killing him I gave vent to my vengeance and eased my tension, And was the first to return to the idols. This verse was then revealed (Whoso slayeth a believer of set purpose�). The Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace, sentenced him to death upon the conquest of Mecca. He was chased and captured by some people in the market place and executed�.