"Aishah said: 'Do you not know that the Messenger of Allah [SAW] said: It is not permissible to shed the blood of a Muslim, except a man who committed adultery after being married, or one who reverted to Kufr after becoming Muslim, or a life for a life.'"
Hadith Text & Reference
"Aishah said: 'Do you not know that the Messenger of Allah [SAW] said: It is not permissible to shed the blood of a Muslim, except a man who committed adultery after being married, or one who reverted to Kufr after becoming Muslim, or a life for a life.'"
Source: Sunan an-Nasa'i 4017 | Book: The Book of Fighting [The Prohibition of Bloodshed]
Scholarly Commentary
This noble hadith establishes the sanctity of Muslim blood, declaring it inviolable except in three specific cases where divine law permits execution. The Prophet ﷺ delivered this ruling through his esteemed wife Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) to emphasize the gravity of unlawful killing.
First Exception: The married adulterer (muhsan) - This refers to one who commits adultery while meeting the conditions of legal maturity, sanity, freedom, and previous lawful sexual relations within marriage. The requirement of four eyewitnesses to the actual penetration must be fulfilled for this ruling to apply.
Second Exception: The apostate who abandons Islam after embracing it - This applies to one who consciously rejects Islam while possessing sound mind and free will. Scholars note that such individuals are given opportunity for repentance before execution is carried out.
Third Exception: Life for life - This refers to lawful retribution (qisas) in cases of intentional murder, where the victim's heirs have the right to demand equivalent punishment, though they may choose forgiveness or blood money instead.
Legal Principles Derived
This hadith establishes the fundamental principle that protection of life is the default ruling in Islamic law, while execution remains an exceptional punishment reserved for the most severe crimes that threaten the moral and social fabric of the Muslim community.
The three exceptions represent crimes against: 1) Divine law and morality (adultery), 2) Religious commitment and community integrity (apostasy), and 3) Human life and social security (murder). Each serves as a deterrent while maintaining the overall sanctity of human life.