The Book of Fighting [The Prohibition of Bloodshed] - Sunan an-Nasa'i 3987

The Prophet [SAW] said: "The extinction of the whole world is less significant before Allah than killing a Muslim man."

Commentary on the Sanctity of Muslim Life

This profound hadith establishes the supreme sanctity of a Muslim's life in the sight of Allah. The extinction of the entire world - with all its civilizations, treasures, and inhabitants - is considered of lesser consequence than the unlawful killing of a single Muslim believer.

Scholars explain that this emphasizes the gravity of murder in Islamic law, where the destruction of one soul is equivalent to the destruction of all humanity. The comparison to worldly extinction demonstrates that no temporal consideration, however vast, can justify the taking of innocent Muslim life.

Legal and Spiritual Implications

This narration forms the foundation for the severe prohibition against murder in Islamic jurisprudence. It establishes that the protection of life is among the primary objectives of Islamic law (maqasid al-shariah).

The hadith serves as a powerful deterrent against bloodshed and reminds believers that Allah's valuation of human life transcends all worldly measures. It underscores that the spiritual consequences of unlawful killing are catastrophic and eternal, far outweighing any temporal benefit or justification.