The Prophet [SAW] said: "If two Muslims confront each other with swords, each of them wanting to kill the other, they will both be in Hell." It was said to him: "O Messenger of Allah, (we understand about) the killer, but what about the one who is killed?" He said: "He was determined to kill his companion."
Hadith Text & Context
The Prophet [SAW] said: "If two Muslims confront each other with swords, each of them wanting to kill the other, they will both be in Hell." It was said to him: "O Messenger of Allah, (we understand about) the killer, but what about the one who is killed?" He said: "He was determined to kill his companion."
Reference: Sunan an-Nasa'i 4120 | The Book of Fighting [The Prohibition of Bloodshed]
Scholarly Commentary
This hadith establishes the grave prohibition of Muslims fighting and killing one another. The apparent contradiction - where both aggressor and apparent victim face the same fate - is resolved by understanding the state of the heart. Both individuals entered the confrontation with murderous intent (qasd al-qatl), making them equally culpable before Allah regardless of who struck first.
The scholars explain that the one killed is not considered a martyr (shahid) in this scenario, despite dying by the sword, because his intention was sinful. This highlights Islam's emphasis on both outward action and inward intention (niyyah). The sword here represents any means of deadly force.
Legal & Spiritual Implications
This ruling applies specifically to two Muslims who willingly engage in mortal combat. It does not apply to self-defense without murderous intent, nor to lawful combat commanded by the legitimate ruler. The hadith serves as a powerful deterrent against fitnah (discord) and emphasizes the sanctity of Muslim life.
Classical scholars derived from this that the blood of Muslims is inviolable to other Muslims, and that harboring intent to kill a believer is among the major sins. The spiritual lesson is that Allah judges by what is in hearts, not merely outward appearances.