An-Nisaa (The Women)

93. "And whoever kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell wherein shall he abide forever, and Allah's wrath shall be on him and He curses him and prepares for him a mighty punishment."

In hard circumstances of the Battle of 'Uhud, one of the Muslims killed another Muslim because of their personal hostilities from the Age of Ignorance The holy Prophet (S) was informed of it by the way of revelation.

Then, when he was returning back from 'Uhud, at the region of Quba he commanded for the retaliation of a believer's murder. He (S) said that the murderer should be killed and be paid no attention to his regret. (Maqazi, Vol. 1, P. 304)

Islam has considered the life of a Muslim, and the protection of the security of the lives of people, very important. It has assigned an eternal retribution for it in order that slaying, and heavy crimes, be hindered. The expression which has been used for the wilful murder of a believer in this verse is not seen upon any other crimes.

Explanations

In Islamic system, no authority is allowed to kill or hang others unreasonably.

Therefore, in Islam, in addition to the execution of retaliation which is a worldly punishment, there are cited four other worldly serious penalties upon the murderer of a wilful murder in the Hereafter.

1. Upon the recompense of such a murderer, the verse, says.

"And whoever kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell wherein shall he abide forever…..."

2. And such a person incurs Allah's wrath. It says:

"...and Allah's wrath shall be on him..."

3. And also, He repels him for His Grace.

"...and he curses him... "

4. And He has prepared a great chastisement for him.

"...and prepares for him a mighty punishment."

Deliberate murder is one of the greatest crimes and the most dangerous sins which destroy entirely the security of the society, the most important condition of a safe and sound society, if it might not be controlled.

Therefore, the Qur'an introduces the unreasonable murder of a person like slaying all the human-kind in the world. So, if a person kills another human being without that the slain be a murderer or a mischief monger on the earth, it seems he has killed all human-kind.