Hadith Text & Context

"The Messenger [SAW] said: 'If two Muslims meet (and fight) with their swords and one of them kills the other, the killer and the slain will both be in Hell.'" (Sunan an-Nasa'i 4121)

This profound narration from The Book of Fighting [The Prohibition of Bloodshed] addresses the grave sin of Muslims killing one another, emphasizing the sanctity of Muslim life.

Scholarly Commentary

The killer enters Hell for committing murder, while the slain enters Hell for his intention to kill his brother. Both share in the sin of shedding prohibited blood.

This hadith establishes that the one who initiates fighting and the one who responds with equal aggression both bear responsibility. The intention (niyyah) to kill a Muslim makes one deserving of divine punishment.

Scholars explain this applies to those who fight without legitimate Islamic justification. It does not include prescribed punishments (hudud), lawful warfare, or legitimate self-defense against aggression.

Legal Implications

This narration underscores the prohibition of Muslims killing one another and the severe consequences in the Hereafter for such actions.

Islamic jurisprudence considers the blood, honor, and property of Muslims inviolable. Fighting between Muslims is strictly forbidden except through proper judicial channels.

The warning applies even if the killer repents, though Allah's mercy may encompass him. The threat serves as a severe deterrent against intra-Muslim violence.