Hadith Text & Context

"The blood of a Muslim man who testifies that there is no god but Allah and that I am the Messenger of Allah should not be lawfully shed but only for one of three reasons: married fornicator, soul for soul, and one who deserts his religion separating himself from the community." (Sunan Abi Dawud 4352)

This foundational hadith from the Book of Prescribed Punishments (Kitab Al-Hudud) establishes the sanctity of Muslim life and delineates the only three circumstances where capital punishment is permissible in Islamic law.

Scholarly Commentary

Married Fornicator (Zani Muhsan): Refers to a Muslim who commits adultery while being married, free, adult, and sane. The punishment is stoning (rajm), based on established prophetic tradition and consensus of scholars.

Soul for Soul (Nafs bin-Nafs): Permits retribution in cases of intentional murder (qisas). The victim's heirs have the right to demand execution of the murderer, though they may choose forgiveness or blood money (diyah).

Deserter of Religion (Al-Murtad): Applies to one who willfully apostatizes from Islam after having embraced it willingly. Classical scholars stipulate that the apostate must be given opportunity to repent before execution.

Legal Principles & Conditions

Scholars emphasize that these punishments require strict evidential standards and proper judicial process. Doubts (shubuhāt) must be considered, and punishments should be avoided when possible.

The phrase "separating himself from the community" indicates that apostasy isn't merely private disbelief but public renunciation that causes division in the Muslim community.

This hadith establishes the principle that protection of life is fundamental in Islam, with capital punishment being an exception rather than the rule, applied only in these three specific, rigorously defined cases.