The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Whoever swears by a religion other than Islam, is, as he says; and whoever commits suicide with something, will be punished with the same thing in the (Hell) Fire; and cursing a believer is like murdering him; and whoever accuses a believer of disbelief, then it is as if he had killed him."
Hadith Commentary: Oaths and Vows
This profound narration from Sahih al-Bukhari 6652 contains four weighty rulings concerning oaths, suicide, slander, and accusations of disbelief - matters of grave consequence in Islamic law.
Swearing by Other Religions
The statement "whoever swears by a religion other than Islam, is as he says" means that if a Muslim intentionally swears by another faith - such as saying "By Christianity!" or "By Judaism!" - he has committed major disbelief (kufr akbar). Scholars explain this constitutes apostasy unless he immediately repents, as swearing by something denotes belief in its sanctity and validity.
The Grave Sin of Suicide
"Whoever commits suicide with something, will be punished with the same thing in the Fire" indicates the severity of this sin. The perpetrator will be eternally punished in Hellfire using the very means by which he took his life - whether by sword, poison, or other methods. This demonstrates that life is a divine trust which none may prematurely end.
Cursing a Believer
"Cursing a believer is like murdering him" shows the gravity of verbal abuse. While not literally equivalent in legal punishment, cursing - invoking Allah's wrath upon another - carries spiritual consequences approaching the severity of murder in divine reckoning, as both destroy the dignity Allah granted humans.
Accusations of Disbelief
"Whoever accuses a believer of disbelief, then it is as if he had killed him" constitutes a severe warning against takfir (declaring Muslims unbelievers). Scholars clarify this applies to unjust accusations against those who maintain Islamic fundamentals. Such accusations spiritually "kill" the accused by denying their faith and rights as Muslims.
Legal and Spiritual Implications
This hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari's Book of Oaths and Vows establishes crucial boundaries for Muslim conduct. It protects the sanctity of Islamic creed, preserves life as sacred, maintains communal harmony, and prevents the grave sin of unjust takfir - all essential for preserving both individual faith and communal unity.