36/11. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 3964 — The Intent Behind Violence
When two Muslims confront one another with their swords
Hadith About Intention in Fighting: Wanting to Kill Matters
Sunan Ibn Majah : 3964
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 3964
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ سِنَانٍ، حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ هَارُونَ، عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ التَّيْمِيِّ، وَسَعِيدِ بْنِ أَبِي عَرُوبَةَ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنِ الْحَسَنِ، عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " إِذَا الْتَقَى الْمُسْلِمَانِ بِسَيْفَيْهِمَا فَالْقَاتِلُ وَالْمَقْتُولُ فِي النَّارِ " . قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ هَذَا الْقَاتِلُ فَمَا بَالُ الْمَقْتُولِ قَالَ " إِنَّهُ أَرَادَ قَتْلَ صَاحِبِهِ " .
Abu Musa Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “When two Muslims confront one another with their swords, both the killer and the slain will be in Hell.” They said: “O Messenger of Allah, (we understand about) this killer, but what is wrong with the one who is slain?” He said: “He wanted to kill his companion.’”
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 3964In-book reference : Book 36, Hadith 39English translation : Vol. 5, Book 36, Hadith 3964
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 3964
This hadith about intention in fighting explains the warning found in similar narrations. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said that when two Muslims confront each other with their swords, both the killer and the slain will be in Hell. The Companions asked about the slain person, because the guilt of the killer was clear to them. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم answered that the slain person wanted to kill his companion. This makes the teaching very direct. The issue is not only the final action, but also the intent to kill. In the setting of Muslims facing each other with swords, wanting to take the life of one’s companion is itself a grave matter. The hadith teaches care before anger turns into action.
What we learn from this hadith
- A harmful intention can make a person blameworthy even if he is not able to finish the act.
- The hadith warns against wanting to kill a Muslim companion.
- The Companions asked for clarity, and the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم explained the reason.
- Internal fighting between Muslims is treated as a serious danger.
