Hadith Text and Context

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Beware! Do not renegade as (disbelievers) after me by striking (cutting) the necks of one another." (Sahih al-Bukhari 7079)

This profound warning was delivered during the Farewell Pilgrimage, the final sermon of Allah's Messenger, emphasizing the sanctity of Muslim life and unity.

Primary Meaning and Prohibition

The phrase "striking the necks" refers to killing and warfare among Muslims. The Prophet explicitly forbids Muslims from turning against each other with weapons after his departure.

"Renegade as disbelievers" indicates that engaging in civil strife and killing fellow Muslims constitutes a regression to pre-Islamic ignorance (Jahiliyyah) and amounts to disbelief in practice.

Scholarly Commentary

Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani explains in Fath al-Bari that this hadith establishes the gravity of fitnah (discord) and the absolute prohibition of shedding Muslim blood.

Al-Qurtubi notes that the warning applies to both the killer and those who support or facilitate such conflicts, as all share in the sin.

The scholars unanimously agree that this hadith underscores the principle that Muslim unity and preservation of life take precedence over all political and doctrinal differences.

Contemporary Relevance

This prophetic warning remains critically relevant today, condemning all forms of terrorism, sectarian violence, and civil wars within Muslim communities.

It serves as a divine reminder that Muslim blood is sacred and that internal conflict destroys the Ummah from within, making it vulnerable to external threats.

The hadith calls Muslims to resolve differences through dialogue, scholarship, and mutual respect rather than violence and weapons.