وَمَن يَقْتُلْ مُؤْمِنًا مُّتَعَمِّدًا فَجَزَآؤُهُۥ جَهَنَّمُ خَـٰلِدًا فِيهَا وَغَضِبَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَلَعَنَهُۥ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُۥ عَذَابًا عَظِيمًا 93
Translations
But whoever kills a believer intentionally - his recompense is Hell, wherein he will abide eternally, and Allāh has become angry with him and has cursed him and has prepared for him a great punishment.
Transliteration
Wa man yaqtul mu'minan mutamassidan fa jazā'uhu jahannamu khālidān fīhā wa ghadiba Allāhu alayhi wa la'anahu wa a'adda lahu 'adhāban 'adhīmā
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah establishes that whoever intentionally kills a believer faces the severe punishment of eternal hellfire, Allah's wrath, and curse. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that the qualifier 'mutammadan' (intentionally) is crucial—it distinguishes premeditated murder from unintentional killing, which has different legal consequences in Islamic law. The severity of the punishment reflects the sanctity of a believer's life in Islam and the gravity of this transgression.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah An-Nisa's broader discussion of rights and prohibitions in the Islamic community. It follows verses concerning inheritance and women's rights, and precedes verse 4:94 which warns against hasty judgments in killing. The context emphasizes the protection of life as a fundamental principle in Islamic law.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Whoever kills a mu'min intentionally, his recompense is Hell-fire, to abide therein; and the Wrath and the Curse of Allah are upon him, and a dreadful chastisement is prepared for him' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 1395). Also relevant: 'The greatest sins are to associate partners with Allah, to disobey parents, to commit murder...' (Sahih Bukhari 2653).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that taking an innocent believer's life is among the gravest sins, emphasizing the inviolable sanctity of human life in Islam and the certainty of divine justice for such transgressions. For modern readers, it reinforces personal responsibility and the weightiness of our actions, especially regarding harm to others.
Related Ayahs
۞ فَمَا لَكُمْ فِى ٱلْمُنَـٰفِقِينَ فِئَتَيْنِ وَٱللَّهُ أَرْكَسَهُم بِمَا كَسَبُوٓا۟ ۚ أَتُرِيدُونَ أَن تَهْدُوا۟ مَنْ أَضَلَّ ٱللَّهُ ۖ وَمَن يُضْلِلِ ٱللَّهُ فَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُۥ سَبِيلًا
What is [the matter] with you [that you are] two groups concerning the hypocrites, while Allāh has made them fall back [into error and disbelief] for what they earned. Do you wish to guide those whom Allāh has sent astray? And he whom Allāh sends astray - never will you find for him a way [of guidance].
مَّن كَانَ يُرِيدُ ثَوَابَ ٱلدُّنْيَا فَعِندَ ٱللَّهِ ثَوَابُ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ سَمِيعًۢا بَصِيرًا
Whoever desires the reward of this world - then with Allāh is the reward of this world and the Hereafter. And ever is Allāh Hearing and Seeing.
وَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ مِن ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنثَىٰ وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ يَدْخُلُونَ ٱلْجَنَّةَ وَلَا يُظْلَمُونَ نَقِيرًا
And whoever does righteous deeds, whether male or female, while being a believer - those will enter Paradise and will not be wronged, [even as much as] the speck on a date seed.
وَمَن يَفْعَلْ ذَٰلِكَ عُدْوَٰنًا وَظُلْمًا فَسَوْفَ نُصْلِيهِ نَارًا ۚ وَكَانَ ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ يَسِيرًا
And whoever does that in aggression and injustice - then We will drive him into a Fire. And that, for Allāh, is [always] easy.