Sunan Abi Dawud
Sunan Abi Dawud 4273
I asked Ibn 'Abbas (about the verse relating to intentional homicide in Surat An-Nisa') He said: When the verse "Those who invoke not with Allah any other god, nor slay such life as Allah had made sacred, except for just cause" was revealed, the polytheists of Mecca said: We have killed the soul prohibited by Allah, invoked another god along with Allah for worship, and committed shameful deeds. So Allah revealed the verse "unless he repents, believes, and works righteous deeds, for Allah will change the evil of such persons into good." This is meant for them. As regards the verse "if a man kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell" He said: If a man knows the command of Islam and intentionally kills a believer, his repentance wil not be accepted. I then mentioned it to Mujahid. He said: "Except the one who is ashamed (of his sin)."
Overview & Central Theme
This profound narration from Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) addresses one of the most delicate theological questions in Islam: the fate of the intentional murderer who sincerely repents. The hadith navigates between two seemingly conflicting verses—Surah Al-Furqan (25:68-70), which promises that Allah transforms evil deeds into good for those who repent, and Surah An-Nisa (4:93), which threatens eternal Hell for intentional homicide. The central theme is the reconciliation of divine mercy with divine justice, revealing that repentance is accepted from the polytheists who embrace Islam, but for a Muslim who knowingly and deliberately kills another believer, the gravity of the crime places them in a category where standard repentance may not suffice—though Allah's absolute mercy remains an unfathomable mystery.
Context & Linguistic Insights
The context (Sabab al-Wurud) is critical: when the Meccan polytheists heard the verse in Surah Al-Furqan listing major sins—shirk, murder, and adultery—they despaired, believing themselves beyond redemption. Allah then revealed the exception for those who repent and believe, which Ibn 'Abbas explains was specifically for them. The term "qatala" (killed) in An-Nisa denotes intentional, premeditated murder, distinct from accidental killing (khata'). The phrase "yu'minu" (believes) in the repentance verse signifies genuine, transformative faith, not mere lip service. Ibn 'Abbas's distinction hinges on the phrase "man ya'lamu hukm al-Islam"—one who knows the Islamic ruling—implying that ignorance of the sanctity of life mitigates culpability, while deliberate transgression against divine law after knowledge carries a weightier consequence. Mujahid's addition, "except the one who is ashamed (of his sin)," highlights that true repentance necessitates profound remorse and self-condemnation, not mere verbal recantation.
Key Scholarly Insights & Legal Benefits
Daily Life & Spiritual Application
This teaching calls every Muslim to a profound reverence for human life, recognizing that each soul is sacred in Allah's sight. Practically, it demands that we exercise extreme caution in our words and actions, avoiding anything that could lead to harm or violence. It also teaches the balance between hope and fear: we must never despair of Allah's mercy, yet we must never become complacent in sin. For those burdened with past wrongs, the door of sincere repentance remains open—but true repentance requires three elements: abandoning the sin, feeling deep remorse, and resolving never to return to it. In our communities, this hadith inspires us to promote peace, seek reconciliation, and uphold justice with compassion, always remembering that Allah's mercy encompasses all things, yet His justice is precise and His knowledge of our intentions is complete.