Hadith Text

"The blood of a Muslim man, who testifies that none has the right to be worshipped Allah, is not lawful except for one of three cases: The (previously married or) married adulterer, a life for a life, and the one who leaves the religion and parts from the Jama'ah (the community of Muslims.)"

Source Reference

The Book on Blood Money - Jami' at-Tirmidhi - Hadith 1402

Scholarly Commentary

This noble hadith establishes the sanctity of Muslim blood and delineates the only three circumstances wherein it becomes permissible to execute a Muslim. The Prophet (ﷺ) begins by affirming the fundamental inviolability of a Muslim's life, rooted in their testimony of faith (shahadah).

The first exception is "the married adulterer" (ath-thayyib uz-zānī) - referring to one who commits adultery while being in a state of marriage (muhsan). This requires the establishment of proof through either confession or the testimony of four righteous witnesses who actually witnessed the act of penetration.

The second is "a life for a life" (an-nafsu bin-nafsi) - referring to lawful retaliation (qisas) in cases of intentional murder. This is established by clear evidence and requires the consent of the victim's heirs, who may choose forgiveness or blood money instead.

The third is "the one who leaves his religion and separates from the community" (at-tāriku li-dīnihī al-mufāriqu lil-jamā'ah) - referring to apostasy from Islam. Scholars differ on the details of implementation, but agree this refers to one who willfully renounces Islam after having embraced it, not one born into disbelief.

Legal Implications

This hadith forms the foundation of Islamic criminal law regarding capital punishment. It emphasizes that these exceptions are strictly limited and cannot be expanded through personal interpretation.

Each case requires rigorous evidential standards and proper judicial process. The mention of "separating from the community" in the third case indicates that apostasy is not merely a private matter of belief, but an act that threatens the social fabric of the Muslim community.

Spiritual Significance

This teaching underscores the tremendous value Islam places on human life, making it sacred by default. The exceptions serve as protective measures for society's moral and physical well-being rather than as punitive measures alone.

The hadith reminds Muslims that their faith grants them protection of life, property, and honor - rights that are suspended only in these three extreme circumstances after due process.