The Book of Oaths, Muharibin, Qasas (Retaliation), and Diyat (Blood Money)

Sahih Muslim 1678 a - Commentary by Classical Scholars

Hadith Text

"The first (thing) that will be decided among people on the Day of Judgment will pertain to bloodshed."

Scholarly Commentary

This hadith emphasizes the gravity of unlawful killing in Islamic law. Scholars explain that bloodshed cases are given precedence on Judgment Day because they represent the ultimate violation of human rights - the sanctity of life granted by Allah.

Imam An-Nawawi states this prioritization demonstrates that unjust killing is among the most severe crimes, as it destroys the fundamental right to life which Allah has made sacred.

Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani comments that this ordering reflects the hierarchy of rights in Islam, where the rights of creation (huquq al-'ibad) begin with the most fundamental - the right to life - before addressing other matters.

Classical jurists derive from this that resolving blood disputes should be prioritized in worldly courts as well, mirroring the divine court's procedure.

Legal Implications

This narration forms the basis for the Islamic legal principle that cases involving loss of life take precedence over all other civil and criminal matters in both temporal and divine judgment.

It underscores the comprehensive system of Qisas (retaliation), Diyat (blood money), and Kaffarah (expiation) established to address unlawful killing while maintaining justice and social order.