54/4. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2888a — Two Muslims Fighting with Swords
If Two Muslims Confront One Another With Their Swords
Hadith About Two Muslims Fighting Each Other
Sahih Muslim : 2888a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2888a
حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو كَامِلٍ، فُضَيْلُ بْنُ حُسَيْنٍ الْجَحْدَرِيُّ حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، عَنْ أَيُّوبَ، وَيُونُسَ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ، عَنِ الأَحْنَفِ بْنِ قَيْسٍ، قَالَ خَرَجْتُ وَأَنَا أُرِيدُ، هَذَا الرَّجُلَ فَلَقِيَنِي أَبُو بَكْرَةَ فَقَالَ أَيْنَ تُرِيدُ يَا أَحْنَفُ قَالَ قُلْتُ أُرِيدُ نَصْرَ ابْنِ عَمِّ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم - يَعْنِي عَلِيًّا - قَالَ فَقَالَ لِي يَا أَحْنَفُ ارْجِعْ فَإِنِّي سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " إِذَا تَوَاجَهَ الْمُسْلِمَانِ بِسَيْفَيْهِمَا فَالْقَاتِلُ وَالْمَقْتُولُ فِي النَّارِ " . قَالَ فَقُلْتُ أَوْ قِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ هَذَا الْقَاتِلُ فَمَا بَالُ الْمَقْتُولِ قَالَ " إِنَّهُ قَدْ أَرَادَ قَتْلَ صَاحِبِهِ " .
Al-Ahnaf bin Qais Narrated from:
I set out with the intention of helping this person (Hadrat 'Ali) when Abu Bakra met me. He said: Ahnaf, where do you intend to go? I said: I intend to help the cousin of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ), viz. 'Ali. Thereupon he said to me: Ahnaf, go back, for I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: When two Muslims confront one another with swords (in hand) both the slayer and the slain would be in Fire. He (Ahnaf) said: I said, or it was said: Allah's Messenger, it may be the case of one who kills. but what about the slain (why he would be put in Hell-Fire)? Thereupon he said: He also intended to kill his companion.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2888aIn-book reference : Book 54, Hadith 18USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 41, Hadith 6898
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 2888a
This hadith about two Muslims fighting shows how serious armed conflict between Muslims is. Ahnaf b. Qais set out intending to help 'Ali, but Abu Bakra advised him to go back. He then quoted the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم: when two Muslims confront one another with swords, both the slayer and the slain would be in the Fire. When asked why the slain is included, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم explained that he also intended to kill his companion. The hadith focuses on intention joined with armed confrontation. It does not discuss every case of conflict or every legal detail. Its clear lesson is to fear Allah before entering bloodshed and to avoid a path where one aims to kill a Muslim.
What we learn from this hadith
- Intending to kill another Muslim is treated with great seriousness.
- The slain person in this case is blamed because he also intended to kill.
- A believer should step back from armed Muslim conflict when warned by this text.
- The hadith links outward fighting with inner intention.
