65/25.2. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 4763 — The Seriousness of Killing a Believer
The Statement of Allah the Exalted: "And those who invoke not any other ilāh (God) along with Allah, nor kill such person..." (V.25:68)
Killing a Believer in Islam: A Grave Warning
Sahih Bukhari : 4763
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 4763
حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا غُنْدَرٌ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنِ الْمُغِيرَةِ بْنِ النُّعْمَانِ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ، قَالَ اخْتَلَفَ أَهْلُ الْكُوفَةِ فِي قَتْلِ الْمُؤْمِنِ، فَرَحَلْتُ فِيهِ إِلَى ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، فَقَالَ نَزَلَتْ فِي آخِرِ مَا نَزَلَ وَلَمْ يَنْسَخْهَا شَىْءٌ.
Sa`id bin Jubair Narrated from:
The people of Kufa differed as regards the killing of a believer so I entered upon Ibn `Abbas (and asked him) about that. Ibn `Abbas said, "The Verse (in Surat-An-Nisa', 4:93) was the last thing revealed in this respect and nothing cancelled its validity."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4763In-book reference : Book 65, Hadith 285USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 6, Book 60, Hadith 286
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 4763
This hadith about killing a believer in Islam records a disagreement among the people of Kufa and how Sa'id bin Jubair went to Ibn Abbas for an answer. The issue was the verse in Surat An-Nisa about whoever kills a believer intentionally. Ibn Abbas said it was the last thing revealed in this respect and that nothing cancelled its validity. The report is short, but its message is heavy. It shows that the killing of a believer was not treated lightly. It also shows the care early Muslims took when they differed about a verse: they asked someone known for knowledge rather than speaking without support.
What we learn from this hadith
- The killing of a believer is presented as a very serious issue.
- When people differed, Sa'id bin Jubair sought an answer from Ibn Abbas.
- The report teaches care in handling Qur’anic verses about grave matters.
