16/11. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 1403 — Warning Against Killing a Mu'ahid
What Has Been Related About One Who Kills A Mu'ahid
Hadith About Killing a Mu'ahid Under Covenant
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 1403
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 1403
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مَعْدِيُّ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ، هُوَ الْبَصْرِيُّ عَنِ ابْنِ عَجْلاَنَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " أَلاَ مَنْ قَتَلَ نَفْسًا مُعَاهِدَةً لَهُ ذِمَّةُ اللَّهِ وَذِمَّةُ رَسُولِهِ فَقَدْ أَخْفَرَ بِذِمَّةِ اللَّهِ فَلاَ يَرَحْ رَائِحَةَ الْجَنَّةِ وَإِنَّ رِيحَهَا لَيُوجَدُ مِنْ مَسِيرَةِ سَبْعِينَ خَرِيفًا " . قَالَ وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ أَبِي بَكْرَةَ . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى حَدِيثُ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ وَقَدْ رُوِيَ مِنْ غَيْرِ وَجْهٍ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) Said: "Indeed, Whoever Kills A Mu'Ahid That Has A Covenant From Allah And A Covenant From His Messenger (ﷺ), Then He Has Violated The Covenant With Allah And The Covenant Of His Messenger, So He Shall Not Smell The Fragrance Of Paradise; Even Though Its Fragrance Can Be Sensed From The Distance Of Seventy Autumns."
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1403In-book reference : Book 16, Hadith 19English translation : Vol. 3, Book 14, Hadith 1403
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 1403
This Hadith about killing a Mu'ahid gives a strong warning. A Mu'ahid in this text is someone who has a covenant from Allah and His Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said that whoever kills such a person has violated that covenant. The Hadith also says that this person will not smell the fragrance of Paradise, even though its fragrance can be sensed from a great distance. The message is direct: covenants and protected lives are not small matters. The text links the safety of a covenant-protected person to the covenant of Allah and His Messenger. So the Hadith teaches respect for agreements, protected life, and serious fear of betrayal.
What we learn from this hadith
- A person under covenant has protected status in this Hadith.
- Killing a Mu'ahid is described as violating the covenant of Allah and His Messenger.
- The Hadith gives a strong warning about the result of this act.
- Agreements and protected lives must be treated with great care.
