37/29. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4116 — Pointing Weapons at a Fellow Muslim
The Prohibition of Killing
Hadith About Pointing a Weapon at a Fellow Muslim
Sunan an-Nasai : 4116
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4116
أَخْبَرَنَا مَحْمُودُ بْنُ غَيْلاَنَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو دَاوُدَ، عَنْ شُعْبَةَ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي مَنْصُورٌ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رِبْعِيًّا، يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ أَبِي بَكْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِذَا أَشَارَ الْمُسْلِمُ عَلَى أَخِيهِ الْمُسْلِمِ بِالسِّلاَحِ فَهُمَا عَلَى جُرُفِ جَهَنَّمَ فَإِذَا قَتَلَهُ خَرَّا جَمِيعًا فِيهَا " .
Abu Bakra Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah [SAW] said: 'If a Muslim points a weapon at his fellow Muslim, then they are on the brink of Hell, and if he kills him, then they will both fall into it.'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4116In-book reference : Book 37, Hadith 151English translation : Vol. 5, Book 37, Hadith 4121
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4116
This hadith warns against even pointing a weapon at another Muslim. The Prophet says that when a Muslim points a weapon at his Muslim brother, both are on the brink of Hell. If he kills him, the narration says they both fall into it. The wording shows how close armed confrontation is to disaster. A weapon changes a quarrel into a situation where life may be lost in moments. The hadith about pointing weapons at Muslims therefore calls for immediate restraint before violence happens. It does not wait until a killing occurs to give a warning. The danger begins when weapons enter the dispute and the two sides move toward deadly conflict.
What we learn from this hadith
- Pointing a weapon at a fellow Muslim is itself gravely dangerous.
- Armed confrontation can quickly lead to killing.
- The warning begins before blood is shed.
- Muslims should step away from conflict before weapons are used.
