QabasLesson 8 of 11
Does Islam allow killing innocent people?
The short answer
No. Islam forbids taking any innocent life. The Quran says Allah decreed that whoever kills a soul unjustly, it is as if he had killed all of humanity, and whoever saves one, it is as if he had saved all of humanity. In war, Muslims may fight only enemy fighters, and must never kill women, children, the elderly or others who do not fight. The Prophet warned that whoever kills a non-Muslim who has been given a promise of protection by Muslims will not even smell the scent of Paradise.
Written by Qabas and checked against Al-Mukhtasar in Interpreting the Noble Quran, Tafsir Ibn Kathir and the HadeethEnc.com explanations.
From the Quran
مِنۡ أَجۡلِ ذَٰلِكَ كَتَبۡنَا عَلَىٰ بَنِيٓ إِسۡرَٰٓءِيلَ أَنَّهُۥ مَن قَتَلَ نَفۡسَۢا بِغَيۡرِ نَفۡسٍ أَوۡ فَسَادٖ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ فَكَأَنَّمَا قَتَلَ ٱلنَّاسَ جَمِيعٗا وَمَنۡ أَحۡيَاهَا فَكَأَنَّمَآ أَحۡيَا ٱلنَّاسَ جَمِيعٗاۚ وَلَقَدۡ جَآءَتۡهُمۡ رُسُلُنَا بِٱلۡبَيِّنَٰتِ ثُمَّ إِنَّ كَثِيرٗا مِّنۡهُم بَعۡدَ ذَٰلِكَ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ لَمُسۡرِفُونَ ﴿٣٢﴾
Because of that, We decreed upon the Children of Israel that whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption [done] in the land - it is as if he had slain mankind entirely. And whoever saves one - it is as if he had saved mankind entirely. And Our messengers had certainly come to them with clear proofs. Then indeed many of them, [even] after that, throughout the land, were transgressors.
Explanation of the verses
Due to Cain’s murder of his brother, I informed the Israelites that any person who kills another person for no valid reason – such as legal retribution or as punishment for causing corruption in the land by treason or waging war – it is as if he has killed all people, since he did not make a distinction between an innocent and a guilty person. Whoever refrains from killing a person whose soul I have made sacred, and regards it to be forbidden to kill such a person, it is as if he has given life to all people, because in such an action lies the safety of all people. My messengers brought to the Israelites clear signs and evidences. Despite this many of them overstepped My limits by committing sins and going against the messengers.
وَقَٰتِلُواْ فِي سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلَّذِينَ يُقَٰتِلُونَكُمۡ وَلَا تَعۡتَدُوٓاْۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُعۡتَدِينَ ﴿١٩٠﴾
Fight in the way of Allāh those who fight against you but do not transgress. Indeed, Allāh does not like transgressors.
Explanation of the verses
Fight in order to raise the word of Allah, against those of the disbelievers who fight you to turn you away from the religion of Allah; but do not overstep the limits of Allah by killing children, women, the elderly, or by mutilating the dead and so on. Allah does not love those who overstep the limits He has established and made sacred.
From the Sunnah
‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Whoever kills a mu‘āhad (a non-Muslim who is granted the pledge of protection by the Muslims) shall not smell the fragrance of Paradise, though its fragrance can be smelt at a distance of forty years."
Explanation
The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) demonstrates the stern warning to anyone who kills a mu‘āhad - a non-Muslim who comes from the land of disbelievers to the abode of Islam and receives the pledge of protection and security - that he will not smell the fragrance of Paradise, though its fragrance can be smelt at a distance of forty years journey.
‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that a woman was found killed in one of the expeditions of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), and so the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) denounced killing women and boys.
Explanation
The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) saw a woman killed in one of the battles, and he denounced killing women and young boys who had not reached puberty.