Surah An-Nisa 4:93

The Ruling Concerning Killing a Believer by Mistake

Allah states that the believer is not allowed to kill his believing brother under any circumstances. In the Two Sahihs, it is recorded that Ibn Mas`ud said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,

«لَا يَحِلُّ دَمُ امْرِىءٍ مُسْلِمٍ يَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلهَ إِلَّا اللهُ، وَأَنِّي رَسُولُ اللهِ، إِلَّا بِإِحْدَى ثَلَاثٍ: النَّفْسُ بِالنَّفْسِ، وَالثَّيِّبُ الزَّانِي، وَالتَّارِكُ لِدِينِهِ الْمُفَارِقُ لِلْجَمَاعَة»

(The blood of a Muslim who testifies that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and that I am the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, is sacred, except in three instances. (They are:) life for life, the married adulterer, and whoever reverts from the religion and abandons the Jama`ah (community of the faithful believers).) When one commits any of these three offenses, it is not up to ordinary citizens to kill him or her, because this is the responsibility of the Muslim Leader or his deputy. Allah said,

إِلاَّ خَطَئاً

(except by mistake). There is a difference of opinion concerning the reason behind revealing this part of the Ayah. Mujahid and others said that it was revealed about `Ayyash bin Abi Rabi`ah, Abu Jahl's half brother, from his mother's side, Asma' bint Makhrabah. `Ayyash killed a man called Al-Harith bin Yazid Al-`Amiri, out of revenge for torturing him and his brother because of their Islam. That man later embraced Islam and performed Hijrah, but `Ayyash did not know this fact. On the Day of the Makkan conquest, `Ayyash saw that man and thought that he was still a disbeliever, so he attacked and killed him. Later, Allah sent down this Ayah. `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam said that this Ayah was revealed about Abu Ad-Darda' because he killed a man after he embraced the faith, just as Abu Ad-Darda' held the sword above him. When this matter was conveyed to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, Abu Ad-Darda' said, "He only said that to avert death." The Prophet said to him,

«هَلَّا شَقَقْتَ عَنْ قَلْبِه»

(Have you opened his heart) The basis for this story is in the Sahih, but it is not about Abu Ad-Darda'. Allah said,

وَمَن قَتَلَ مُؤْمِناً خَطَئاً فَتَحْرِيرُ رَقَبَةٍ مُّؤْمِنَةٍ وَدِيَةٌ مُّسَلَّمَةٌ إِلَى أَهْلِهِ

(and whosoever kills a believer by mistake, he must set free a believing slave and submit compensation (blood money) to the deceased's family) thus, ordaining two requirements for murder by mistake. The first requirement is the Kaffarah (fine) for the great sin that has been committed, even if it was a mistake. The Kaffarah is to free a Muslim slave, not a non-Muslim slave. Imam Ahmad recorded that a man from the Ansar said that he brought a slave and said, "O Messenger of Allah! I have to free a believing slave, so if you see that this slave is a believer, I will free her." The Messenger of Allah ﷺ asked her,

«أَتَشْهَدِينَ أَنْ لَا إِلهَ إِلَّا اللهُ؟»

(Do you testify that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah) She said, "Yes." He asked her,

«أَتَشْهَدِينَ أَنِّي رَسُولُ اللهِ؟»

(Do you testify that I am the Messenger of Allah) She said, "Yes." He asked,

«أَتُؤْمِنِينَ بِالْبَعْثِ بَعْدَ الْمَوْتِ؟»

(Do you believe in Resurrection after death) She said, "Yes." The Prophet said,

«أَعْتِقْهَا»

(Then free her.) This is an authentic chain of narration, and not knowing the name of the Ansari Companion does not lessen its authenticity. Allah's statement,

وَدِيَةٌ مُّسَلَّمَةٌ إِلَى أَهْلِهِ

(and submit compensation (blood money) to the deceased's family) is the second obligation which involves the killer and the family of the deceased, who will receive blood money as compensation for their loss. The compensation is only obligatory for the one who possesses one of five; as Imam Ahmad, and the Sunan compilers recorded from Ibn Mas`ud. He said; "Allah's Messenger ﷺ determined that the Diyah (blood money) for unintentional murder is twenty camels which entered their fourth year, twenty camels which entered their fifth year, twenty camels which entered their second year, and twenty camels which entered their third year." This is the wording of An-Nasa'i. This Diyah is required from the elders of the killer's tribe, not from his own money. In the Two Sahihs, it is recorded that Abu Hurayrah said, "Two women from Hudhayl quarreled and one of them threw a stone at the other and killed her and her unborn fetus. They disputed before the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and he decided that the Diyah of the fetus should be to free a male or a female slave. He also decided that the Diyah of the deceased is required from the elders of the killer's tribe." This Hadith indicates that in the case of what appears to be intentional murder, the Diyah is the same as that for killing by virtual mistake. The former type requires three types of Diyah, just like intentional murder, because it is somewhat similar to intentional murder. Al-Bukhari recorded in his Sahih that `Abdullah bin `Umar said, "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent Khalid bin Al-Walid to Banu Jadhimah and he called them to Islam, but they did not know how to say, `We became Muslims.' They started saying, `Saba'na, Saba'na (we became Sabians). Khalid started killing them, and when this news was conveyed to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, he raised his hands and said,

«اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَبْرَأُ إِلَيْكَ مِمَّا صَنَعَ خَالِد»

(O Allah! I declare my innocence before You of what Khalid did.) The Messenger ﷺ sent `Ali to pay the Diyah of those who were killed and to compensate for the property that was destroyed, to the extent of replacing the dog's bowl. This Hadith indicates that the mistake of the Leader or his deputy (Khalid in this case) is paid from the Muslim Treasury. Allah said,

إِلاَّ أَن يَصَّدَّقُواْ

(unless they remit it), meaning, the Diyah must be delivered to the family of the deceased, unless they forfeit their right, in which case the Diyah does not become necessary. Allah's statement,

فَإِن كَانَ مِن قَوْمٍ عَدُوٍّ لَّكُمْ وَهُوَ مْؤْمِنٌ فَتَحْرِيرُ رَقَبَةٍ مُّؤْمِنَةٍ

(If the deceased belonged to a people at war with you and he was a believer, the freeing of a believing slave (is prescribed);) means, if the murdered person was a believer, yet his family were combatant disbelievers, then they will receive no Diyah. In this case, the murderer only has to free a believing slave. Allah's statement,

وَإِن كَانَ مِن قَوْمٍ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَهُمْ مِّيثَاقٌ

(and if he belonged to a people with whom you have a treaty of mutual alliance,) meaning, if the family of the deceased were from Ahl Adh-Dhimmah or with whom there is a peace treaty, then they deserve his Diyah; full Diyah if the deceased was a believer, in which case the killer is required to free a believing slave also.

فَمَن لَّمْ يَجِدْ فَصِيَامُ شَهْرَيْنِ مُتَتَابِعَيْنِ

(And whoso finds this beyond his means, he must fast for two consecutive months) without breaking the fast (in the days of) the two months. If he breaks the fast without justification, i.e. illness, menstruation, post-natal bleeding, then he has to start all over again. Allah's statement,

تَوْبَةً مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَلِيماً حَكِيماً

(to seek repentance from Allah. And Allah is Ever All-Knowing, All-Wise.) means, this is how the one who kills by mistake can repent, he fasts two consecutive months if he does not find a slave to free.

وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَلِيماً حَكِيماً

(And Allah is Ever All-Knowing, All-Wise), we mentioned the explanation of this before.

Warning Against Intentional Murder

After Allah mentioned the ruling of unintentional murder, He mentioned the ruling for intentional murder. Allah said,

وَمَن يَقْتُلْ مُؤْمِناً مُّتَعَمِّداً

(And whoever kills a believer intentionally,) This Ayah carries a stern warning and promise for those who commit so grave a sin that it is mentioned along with Shirk in several Ayat of Allah's Book. For instance, in Surat Al-Furqan, Allah said,

وَالَّذِينَ لاَ يَدْعُونَ مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَـهَا ءَاخَرَ وَلاَ يَقْتُلُونَ النَّفْسَ الَّتِى حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ إِلاَّ بِالْحَقِّ

(And those who invoke not any other god along with Allah, nor kill such person as Allah has forbidden, except for just cause). Allah said,

قُلْ تَعَالَوْاْ أَتْلُ مَا حَرَّمَ رَبُّكُمْ عَلَيْكُمْ أَلاَّ تُشْرِكُواْ بِهِ شَيْئاً

(Say: "Come, I will recite what your Lord has prohibited you from: Join not anything in worship with Him.) 6:151. There are many Ayat and Hadiths that prohibit murder. In the Two Sahihs, it is recorded that Ibn Mas`ud said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,

«أَوَّلُ مَا يُقْضَى بَيْنَ النَّاسِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فِي الدِّمَاء»

(Blood offenses are the first disputes to be judged between the people on the Day of Resurrection. ) In a Hadith that Abu Dawud recorded, `Ubadah bin As-Samit states that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,

«لَا يَزَالُ الْمُؤْمِنُ مُعْنِقًا صَالِحًا، مَا لَمْ يُصِبْ دَمًا حَرَامًا، فَإِذَا أَصَابَ دَمًا حَرَامًا بَلَّح»

(The believer will remain unburdened in righteousness as long as he does not shed prohibited blood. When he sheds forbidden blood, he will become burdened.) Another Hadith, states,

«لَزَوَالُ الدُّنْيَا أَهْوَنُ عِنْدَ اللهِ مِنْ قَتْلِ رَجُلٍ مُسْلِم»

(The destruction of this earthly life is less significant before Allah than killing a Muslim man (or woman).)

Will the Repentance of those who Commit Intentional Murder, be Accepted

Ibn `Abbas held the view that the repentance of one who intentionally murders a believer, will not be accepted. Al-Bukhari recorded that Ibn Jubayr said, "The people of knowledge of Al-Kufah differed on this subject, I traveled to Ibn `Abbas to ask him about it. He said, `This Ayah,

وَمَن يَقْتُلْ مُؤْمِناً مُّتَعَمِّداً فَجَزَآؤُهُ جَهَنَّمُ

(And whoever kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell) was the last revealed on this subject and nothing abrogated it."' Muslim and An-Nasa'i also recorded it. However, the majority of scholars of the earlier and later generations said that the killer's repentance can be accepted. If he repents, and goes back to Allah humbly, submissively, and performing righteous deeds, then Allah will change his evil deeds into good deeds and compensate the deceased for his loss by rewarding him for his suffering. Allah said, R

وَالَّذِينَ لاَ يَدْعُونَ مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَـهَا ءَاخَرَ

(And those who invoke not any other god along with Allah), until,

إِلاَّ مَن تَابَ وَءَامَنَ وَعَمِلَ عَمَلاً صَـلِحاً

(Except those who repent and believe, and do righteous deeds). The Ayah we just mentioned should not be considered abrogated or only applicable to the disbelievers who become Muslim, for this contradicts the general, encompassing indications of the Ayah and requires evidence to support it. Allah knows best. Allah said,

قُلْ يعِبَادِىَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُواْ عَلَى أَنفُسِهِمْ لاَ تَقْنَطُواْ مِن رَّحْمَةِ اللَّهِ

(Say: "O My servants who have transgressed against themselves! Despair not of the mercy of Allah). This Ayah is general, covering all types of sins, including Kufr, Shirk, doubt, hypocrisy, murder, sin, and so forth. Therefore, everyone who repents sincerely from any of these errors, then Allah will forgive him. Allah said,

إِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يَغْفِرُ أَن يُشْرَكَ بِهِ وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَلِكَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ

(Verily, Allah forgives not that partners should be set up with Him (in worship), but He forgives except that (anything else) to whom He wills). This Ayah is general and includes every sin except Shirk, and it has been mentioned in this Surah, both after this Ayah and before it, in order to encourage hope in Allah, and Allah knows best. It is confirmed in the Two Sahihs, that an Israeli killed one hundred people then he asked a scholar, "Is it possible for me to repent" So he replied, "What is there that would prevent you from repentance" So he told him to go to another land where Allah was worshipped. He began to emigrate to it but died on the way, and the angel of mercy was the one to take him. Although this Hadith is about an Israeli, it is even more suitable for the Muslim community that their repentance be accepted. Indeed, Allah relieved Muslims from the burdens and restrictions that were placed on the Jews, and He sent our Prophet with the easy Hanifiyyah way (Islamic Monotheism). As for the honorable Ayah,

وَمَن يَقْتُلْ مُؤْمِناً مُّتَعَمِّداً

(And whoever kills a believer intentionally), Abu Hurayrah and several among the Salaf said that this is his punishment, if Allah decides to punish him. And this is the case with every threat that is issued for every sin. For instance, there could be good deeds that this person has done that would prevent him from being punished for that, and Allah knows best. Even if the murderer inevitably enters the Fire -- as Ibn `Abbas stated because his repentance was not accepted, or he did not have good deeds to save him, he will not remain there for eternity, but only for a long time. There are Mutawatir Hadiths stating that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,

«إِنَّهُ يَخْرُجُ مِنَ النَّارِ مَنْ كَانَ فِي قَلْبِهِ أَدْنَى ذَرَّةٍ مِنْ إِيمَان»

(Whoever has the least speck of faith in his heart shall ultimately depart the Fire.)

Betapa besarnya dosa seorang mukmin yang membunuh mukmin lainnya dengan sengaja. Dalam permulaan ayat yang lalu disebutkan sebagai suatu perbuatan yang tidak layak bagi seorang yang beriman karena seharusnya imannya menghalanginya dari perbuatan tersebut. Maka ayat ini menyebutkan hukuman yang akan ditimpakan kepada mukmin yang membunuh mukmin yang lain dengan sengaja, sama dengan hukuman yang disediakan Allah swt untuk orang yang tidak beriman, sehingga seolah-olah si pembunuh tersebut disamakan dengan orang yang tidak beriman karena kejahatan yang dilakukannya sama sekali tidak layak bagi orang yang beriman.

Menurut ayat ini, hukuman yang akan diterapkan untuknya ialah azab neraka yang kekal di dalamnya dan kemurkaan serta laknat Allah. Neraka Jahanam merupakan azab yang paling berat. Kekekalan seseorang dalam neraka menunjukkan bahwa Allah tidak menerima tobatnya. Sedang laknat Allah berarti dijauhkan dari rahmat-Nya selama-lamanya. Kemurkaan Allah kepada seseorang akan menjauhkannya dari keridaan-Nya, di samping itu masih disediakan pula untuknya azab yang besar yang tidak dijelaskan dalam ayat ini.

Perlu diketahui, berbagai hukuman yang disebutkan dalam ayat ini diancamkan kepada si pembunuh mukmin, yang membunuh mukmin yang lain dengan sengaja, adalah merupakan azab ukhrawi, yaitu azab yang akan diterima di akhirat kelak. Sedang di dunia ini, berlaku hukuman duniawi yang dilakukan oleh pihak penguasa. Menurut peraturan yang telah ditentukan dalam agama, yaitu: apabila dalam sidang pengadilan seseorang telah terbukti bersalah, maka terhadapnya dijatuhkan dan dilaksanakan hukum kisas, yaitu pembalasan yang setimpal, nyawa dengan nyawa. Tetapi, apabila ahli waris dari yang terbunuh memberikan maaf dan tidak menghendaki pelaksanaan hukuman kisas terhadap si pembunuh, maka pihak si pembunuh diwajibkan membayar diat, yang harus dilaksanakan dengan cara yang baik. Artinya: harus dibayar oleh yang bersangkutan pada waktu dan dengan jumlah yang ditetapkan oleh pengadilan tanpa mengulur-ulur waktu. Sebaliknya pihak yang akan menerima harus bersabar sampai datangnya waktu yang telah ditetapkan dan tidak mendesak (lihat al-Baqarah/2:178).

Mengenai tobat si pembunuh menurut zahir ayat ini memang tidak diterima Allah swt, karena dalam ayat ini disebutkan bahwa ia kekal dalam neraka Jahanam, sedang orang yang diterima tobatnya oleh Tuhan tidak akan kekal dalam neraka. Mengenai masalah ini ada dua pendapat:

Pertama: Pendapat sebagian sahabat, antara lain Ibnu Abbas, mengatakan bahwa orang mukmin yang membunuh orang mukmin lain dengan sengaja tidak diterima tobatnya di sisi Allah Yang Maha Esa. Lain halnya dengan orang musyrik yang walaupun pada masa-masa musyriknya ia membunuh, tetapi ia berbuat demikian sebelum ia mendapat petunjuk dan belum mengetahui hukum-hukum Allah, maka perbuatan membunuhnya diampuni oleh Allah selama perbuatan itu tidak diulangi setelah masuk Islam. Tetapi apabila ia telah memperoleh petunjuk dan telah mengetahui hukum-hukum dan larangan-larangan agama, maka perbuatannya itu berarti meremehkan hukum Allah yang telah diketahuinya dengan baik, dan seolah-olah telah meninggalkan imannya. Maka wajar bila Allah tidak menerima tobatnya, sebaliknya Allah memberikan azab yang kekal dalam neraka Jahanam dan kemurkaan serta laknat-Nya.

Kedua: Pendapat sebagian ulama, si pembunuh walaupun ia membunuh mukmin lainnya dengan sengaja, namun bila ia bertobat maka tobatnya masih diterima Allah, sebab Allah telah menjelaskan bahwa hanya dosa syiriklah yang tidak diampuni-Nya. Adapun dosa-dosa selain syirik masih dapat diampuni bagi orang-orang yang dikehendaki-Nya. Allah berfirman:

Sesungguhnya Allah tidak akan mengampuni (dosa) karena mempersekutukan-Nya (syirik), dan Dia mengampuni apa (dosa) yang selain (syirik) itu bagi siapa yang Dia kehendaki. Barang siapa mempersekutukan Allah, maka sungguh, dia telah berbuat dosa yang besar. (an-Nisa/4:48).

Jika Allah dapat menerima tobat seorang yang dahulunya musyrik yang melakukan pembunuhan dan perzinaan, kemudian ia masuk Islam dan bertobat serta senantiasa melakukan amal-amal saleh dan menjauhi perbuatan jahat, mengapa tobat seorang mukmin yang melakukan satu kali pembunuhan saja tidak dapat diterima Allah? Apakah tidak mungkin bahwa setelah melaksanakan pembunuhan itu yang mungkin karena disebabkan dorongan emosi yang meluap-luap, ia sadar akan kesalahannya dan mengetahui betapa besar dosanya dan betapa berat azab yang akan diterimanya, lalu ia bertobat kepada Allah dan menjauhi segala macam kejahatan, serta mengerjakan amal-amal saleh dengan tekun?

Adapun orang-orang yang mengaku mukmin, tetapi ia senantiasa bergelimang dalam perbuatan dosa dan membunuh orang-orang mukmin yang lain yang dianggapnya sebagai musuh-musuhnya, atau karena ingin menguasai harta benda, maka orang-orang semacam ini tidak diterima tobatnya di sisi Allah dan selayaknyalah mereka menerima azab neraka dan kekal di dalamnya serta ditimpa kemurkaan dan laknat Allah jika mereka tidak bertobat sebelum ajalnya.