a life for a life; a married man who commits fornication; and one who turns aside from his religion and abandons the community.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)
Retaliation - Mishkat al-Masabih 3446
The hadith states: "A life for a life; a married man who commits fornication; and one who turns aside from his religion and abandons the community." (Bukhari and Muslim)
Commentary on the Three Grave Sins
This noble hadith enumerates three categories of sins for which there is no expiation except through sincere repentance and, in the case of murder, proper legal retribution. The Prophet (peace be upon him) specified these to emphasize their gravity and the severe consequences they entail in this life and the Hereafter.
"A life for a life" refers to the Islamic law of retribution (qisas) for intentional murder. It establishes the principle of justice and deters people from unlawfully taking human life. The life of a Muslim is sacred, and taking it without right warrants the most severe penalty, though forgiveness and blood-money (diyah) are encouraged alternatives.
"A married man who commits fornication" refers to the one who commits adultery (zina) while being in a state of marriage (muhsan). This act violates the sacred covenant of marriage, corrupts lineages, and disrupts the social order. The prescribed punishment (hadd) for such an individual, if the legal conditions are met, is stoning (rajm), demonstrating the severity of this transgression against God's boundaries.
"One who turns aside from his religion and abandons the community" refers to the apostate (murtadd) who renounces Islam and separates from the Muslim community (jama'ah). Apostasy is a rejection of God's greatest blessing—faith—and severs one's connection with the Ummah. The consensus of the scholars is that such an individual is given a chance to repent; if they refuse, the prescribed punishment is applied to protect the religion and maintain communal integrity.
Legal and Spiritual Implications
These three sins represent transgressions against the fundamental rights of God (Huquq Allah) and the rights of His creation (Huquq al-'Ibad). They attack the very pillars of society: the sanctity of life, the integrity of the family, and the unity of faith. The severe warnings associated with them serve as a powerful deterrent.
It is crucial to understand that God's mercy is vast and encompasses all sins for those who sincerely repent before the matter is brought before the authorities. True repentance (tawbah) requires ceasing the sin, regretting it, and resolving never to return to it. For murder, repentance must also be coupled with seeking the forgiveness of the victim's heirs or facing the legal consequences.