The lives of all Muslims are equal; they are one hand against the others. The covenant (given by even the) lowliest of them must be respected. Behold, a Muslim must not be killed for a disbeliever, nor must one who has been given a covenant be killed while his covenant is still in force. If anyone introduces an evil, he will be responsible for it. Whoever introduces an evil deed or shelters a perpetrator incurs the curse of Allah, His Angels, and all the people
Chapter: Should A Muslim Be Killed In Retaliation For A Disbeliever ?
Qays ibn ‘Abbād reported: Al-Ashtar and I went to ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) and said to him: "Has the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) given you anything exclusive that he did not give to the people in general?" He said: "No, except what is in this document of mine." Mūsaddad said: "He then took out a document." Ahmad said: "A document from the sheath of his sword." It stipulated that "the lives of all Muslims are equal; they are one hand against the others. The covenant (given by even the) lowliest of them must be respected. Behold, a Muslim must not be killed for a disbeliever, nor must one who has been given a covenant be killed while his covenant is still in force. If anyone introduces an evil, he will be responsible for it. Whoever introduces an evil deed or shelters a perpetrator incurs the curse of Allah, His Angels, and all the people."
Reported by Abu Dawud (No. 4530), An-Nasa’i (No. 4734, 4735, 4744, 4745, 4746) and Ahmad (No. 913, 944, 946).
This Hadīth indicates that some of the Tābi‘īn asked ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) a question similar to that asked by Abu Juhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him) on another occasion. He asked if the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) had given ‘Ali any exclusive knowledge different from the Qur’an? ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) answered in the negative, affirming that he had nothing but a sheet on which were some rulings which ‘Ali had written from the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). These included the ruling that the lives of all Muslims are equal, such that a Muslim would be killed for killing any Muslim. However, a Muslim would not be killed for killing a disbeliever, for a disbeliever is not equal to a Muslim in the inviolability of their blood. Also, the covenant of any Muslim is to be respected, whether it is given by a junior or a senior person, by a man or a woman. So if a Muslim gives a covenant of protection to someone, even if the person who is to be protected is a disbeliever, the covenant must be honored. It is not permissible to kill anyone who enters the lands of Islam under a covenant, for his life has been protected by virtue of this covenant. Anyone who does an evil deed or hides or shelters the perpetrator incurs the curse of Allah, the Angels, and all people. This means that he shall be dismissed from the mercy of Allah, the Exalted.
Explanation in Arabic
أفاد الحديث أن بعض التابعين سأل عليًّا رضي الله عنه كما سأله الصحابي أبوجحيفة رضي الله عنه في مناسبة أخرى: هل خصكم رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بشيءٍ غير القرآن؟ فنفى علي رضي الله عنه ذلك، وأنه ليس عنده شيء يختص به عن الناس إلا ما في صحيفته هذه مما وجد فيها من أحكام قد كتبها عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ، ومما جاء فيها تساوي دماء المسلمين فيما بينهم، بحيث يقتل المسلم بالمسلم إذا اعتدى عليه، كما لا يقتل المسلم إذا قتل كافرًا؛ لأن الكافر لا يساوي المسلم في حرمة دمه، وأن ذمتهم وعهدهم محترم من صغير وكبير رجل أو امرأة؛ فمن أمَّنَ شخصًا قبل تأمينه ولو كان المؤمَّنُ كافرًا احترامًا لعهد المسلم، كما لا يجوز قتل من دخل بلاد المسلمين بعهد وميثاق، لأنه قد عصم دمه بهذا العهد، ومن فعل فعلا منكرا أو تستر على فاعله وآواه فإنه بفعله هذا يستوجب اللعنة من الله والملائكة والناس أجمعين، بحيث يطرد ويبعد عن رحمة الله تعالى .
أنه لا يقتل مسلم بكافر؛ فإن الكافر غير مكافىء للمسلم.
تحريم قتل المعاهد، ما دام متمسكًا بعهده مع المسلمين.
أن دماء المؤمنين والمسلمين تتساوى في الدية والقصاص، فليس أحد أفضل من أحد، لا في الأنساب، ولا في الأعراق، ولا في المذاهب، فهم أمام هذا الحق والواجب سواء.
أن المسلم الواحد إذا أمَّن كافرًا، صار أمانه ساريًا على عموم المسلمين، فيجب احترام أمانه.
كلمة المسلمين واحدة، وأمرهم ضد أعدائهم واحد، فلا يتفرقون ولا يتخاذلون، وإنما هم عصبة واحدة.
النبي -صلى الله عليه وسلم- لم تخص رسالته أحدًا دون أحد، وحاشاه أن يبلغ أحدًا دون أحد، أو أن يكتم شيئًا مما أرسله الله به؛ فقد قال -تعالى-: {ياأيها الرسول بلغ ما أنزل إليك من ربك وإن لم تفعل فما بلغت رسالته} [المائدة: 67].
علو الإيمان والإسلام على غيره، ويتفرع عن هذا أنه لا يقتل المسلم بالكافر.
السنة لعبد الله بن أحمد (1190)مَنْ أَحْدَثَ حَدَثًا أَوْ آوَى مُحْدِثًا فَعَلَيْهِ لَعْنَةُ اللَّهِ وَالْمَلائِكَةِ وَالنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ لا يُقْبَلُ مِنْهُ صَرْفٌ وَلا عَدْلٌ
‘Amr ibn Shu‘ayb reported from his father that his grandfather said: "The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: 'Muslims are like one hand against all those who are outside the community. Their blood and wealth are equal (in terms of inviolability). The protection…
