37/2. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4002 — Intentional Murder and the People of Shirk
The Gravity of the Sin of Shedding Blood
Qur'an 4:93 and Intentional Murder: Ibn Abbas on Two Verses
Sunan an-Nasai : 4002
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4002
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدٌ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ، قَالَ أَمَرَنِي عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ أَبِي لَيْلَى أَنْ أَسْأَلَ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ، عَنْ هَاتَيْنِ الآيَتَيْنِ، { وَمَنْ يَقْتُلْ مُؤْمِنًا مُتَعَمِّدًا فَجَزَاؤُهُ جَهَنَّمُ } فَسَأَلْتُهُ فَقَالَ لَمْ يَنْسَخْهَا شَىْءٌ . وَعَنْ هَذِهِ الآيَةِ { وَالَّذِينَ لاَ يَدْعُونَ مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَهًا آخَرَ وَلاَ يَقْتُلُونَ النَّفْسَ الَّتِي حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ إِلاَّ بِالْحَقِّ } قَالَ نَزَلَتْ فِي أَهْلِ الشِّرْكِ .
Sa'eed bin Jubair Narrated from:
Abdur-Rahman bin Abi Laila told me to ask Ibn 'Abbas about two Verses: 'And whoever kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell.' I asked him and he said: 'Nothing of this has been abrogated.' (And I asked him about the Verse): 'And those who invoke not any other ilah (god) along with Allah, or kill such person as Allah has forbidden, except by right,' he said: 'This was revealed concerning the people of Shirk.'
[1] An-Nisâ’ 4:93.[2] Al-Furqân 25:68.Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4002In-book reference : Book 37, Hadith 37English translation : Vol. 5, Book 37, Hadith 4007
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4002
This hadith explains how Ibn 'Abbas understood two Qur'anic passages connected with killing and repentance. Sa'eed bin Jubair was asked to question him about the verse stating that the recompense of one who intentionally kills a believer is Hell. Ibn 'Abbas said that nothing had abrogated it. He was also asked about the passage in Surah Al-Furqan that mentions those who do not call on another god with Allah and do not kill a forbidden soul without right. Ibn 'Abbas said that this passage was revealed concerning the people of shirk. The core topic is the gravity of intentional murder and the proper reading of related verses. The narration reports Ibn 'Abbas's explanation specifically; it does not give a full discussion of every question about repentance or punishment.
What we learn from this hadith
- Ibn 'Abbas stated that the warning about intentionally killing a believer was not abrogated.
- He connected the Al-Furqan passage in this report with people of shirk.
- Related Qur'anic verses should not be combined without careful attention to their stated setting.
- The narration keeps the focus on the severe warning against deliberate killing.
