The Book of Fighting [The Prohibition of Bloodshed] - Sunan an-Nasa'i 3990

"The Messenger of Allah [SAW] said: 'Killing a believer is more grievous before Allah than the extinction of the whole world.'"

Commentary on the Sanctity of Believer's 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 lesser in gravity than the unlawful killing of a single believer.

Scholars explain that the world's destruction, while catastrophic, remains within the natural order of Allah's creation and His divine decree. However, the murder of a believer constitutes a direct violation of Allah's explicit prohibition and an assault upon the sacred trust He has placed in human life.

Legal and Spiritual Implications

This narration serves as the foundation for the severe legal penalties for murder in Islamic law, while simultaneously emphasizing the spiritual gravity of the sin. The believer's life is protected by multiple safeguards: the law of retaliation (qisas), blood money (diyah), and the terrible warning of punishment in the Hereafter.

Imam an-Nawawi comments that this hadith demonstrates that the rights of servants (huquq al-'ibad) take precedence in certain matters, as the sin against another human being requires both divine forgiveness and earthly restitution.

Comparative Gravity of Sins

Classical scholars use this hadith to illustrate the hierarchy of sins. While shirk (associating partners with Allah) remains the greatest sin, unlawful killing ranks among the most severe transgressions after it. The comparison to world extinction highlights that no worldly benefit or necessity can justify the murder of an innocent believer.

Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani notes that this emphasizes the individual's value in Islam - each soul represents an entire world of potential worship, righteousness, and contribution to humanity.