(Al-Ahnaf said:) I went out carrying my arms during the nights of the affliction (i.e. the war between `Ali and `Aisha) and Abu Bakra met me and asked, "Where are you going?" I replied, "I intend to help the cousin of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) (i.e.,`Ali)." Abu Bakra said, "Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, 'If two Muslims take out their swords to fight each other, then both of them will be from amongst the people of the Hell- Fire.' It was said to the Prophet, 'It is alright for the killer but what about the killed one?' He replied, 'The killed one had the intention to kill his opponent.'" (See Hadith No. 30, Vol. 1)
Narrated Al-Ahnaf:
Abu Bakra said: The Prophet (ﷺ) said (as above, 204).
Context and Significance
This narration from Sahih al-Bukhari 7083 addresses the grave matter of Muslim internecine warfare during the first civil strife (fitnah) between the companions of Allah's Messenger. The incident occurred during the Battle of the Camel, where Al-Ahnaf intended to join the forces of Ali ibn Abi Talib against Aisha's faction.
Scholarly Commentary
The profound wisdom in Abu Bakra's reminder demonstrates how the Prophet's teachings transcend temporal conflicts. Both combatants in Muslim civil war are threatened with Hellfire because each bears the intention to kill fellow believers, violating the sanctity of Muslim blood.
Classical scholars explain that the killed is equally culpable because he entered the battlefield with murderous intent (qasd al-qatl), making him a participant in the mutual transgression. This establishes that moral responsibility lies in intention and action, not merely in physical outcome.
Legal and Spiritual Implications
This hadith forms a fundamental principle in Islamic jurisprudence: the prohibition of fitnah (civil strife) and the grave sin of Muslims fighting each other. Scholars emphasize that this warning applies except in cases of legitimate self-defense against clear aggression.
The narration teaches that spiritual consequences are determined by intentions - both parties in unjust combat share moral responsibility. This serves as eternal guidance for Muslims facing internal conflicts, prioritizing reconciliation over combat.
Historical Preservation
Through Abu Bakra's timely recollection, this Prophetic teaching was preserved during a critical historical moment. His intervention prevented further bloodshed and demonstrated how companions upheld divine principles even amidst political turmoil.