Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

in hadith 3.821 (Grave Sins)... the 3rd Grave sin is TO KILL A PERSON ,,,

is TO KILL A PERSON or is it TO KILL A MUSLIM?

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Kill person or kill muslim grave sin

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 5 Surah Maidah verse 32 (part):

If anyone slew a person, unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land (for ‘just cause’ in accordance with the Law), it would be as if he slew the whole people!

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 25 Surah Furqaan verses 63-71:

The (true) servants of the Merciful are those who walk humbly on the earth. When the ignorant people behave insolently towards them, they say, “Peace to you”; (And those) who pass their nights in prostrating themselves and standing before their Lord and pray, “O our Lord, save us from the torment of Hell, for its torment is killing! It is an evil abode, and an evil resting place”. (And those) who, when they spend are neither extravagant, nor miserly, but keep the golden mean between the two extremes. (And those) who do not invoke any god but Allah Alone, nor kill a soul unjustly, which Allah has forbidden, nor commit adultery… He who does this shall be punished for his sin, and his torment shall be doubled on the Day of Resurrection, and he shall abide in a state of ignominy; EXCEPT THE ONE WHO MAY HAVE REPENTED (AFTER THOSE SINS), AND HAVE BELIEVED AND DONE RIGHTEOUS DEEDS. For then, Allah will change his evil deeds into good deeds, and He is very Forgiving and Merciful. In fact, one who repents and does righteous deeds, returns to Allah as one rightly should!

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 3.821 Narrated by Anas ibn Malik

The Prophet (saws) was asked about the ‘Kabair’ (Grave Sins) and he (saws) said, "They are:--

1. To join others in worship with Allah,
2. To be undutiful to one's parents,
3. To kill a person (which Allah has forbidden to kill) (i.e. to commit the crime of murder),
4. And to give a false witness."

Your Question: …is TO KILL A PERSON or is it TO KILL A MUSLIM?

In light of the above quoted guidance of the Quran and the Sunnah, the term used for the abomination is ‘Qatl’ or intentional murder (without just cause in accordance with Islamic Law)….absolutely regardless of whether the victim is a believer or a disbeliever.

Without an iota of a doubt, to kill someone without just cause, absolutely regardless of whether the victim is a believer or a disbeliever, is one amongst the gravest sins in the Sight of the Lord Who Created!

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan