93 Page Notes

04 Surah An-Nisa (continued)

Page 93 - Related Hadith/Sunnah

4:92

4:93

4:94

Translation of the meaning by Sahih International.

Page 93 - Related Hadiths and Sunnah

_Page 93 of the Madinah Mushaf begins with Surah An-Nisāʾ (4:92–94). These verses deal with:

1. Accidental killing of a believer (4:92)

2. The severe warning against intentionally killing a believer (4:93)

3. Verifying matters carefully and not judging someone's faith hastily in wartime (4:94)

The Sunnah contains several important narrations related to these verses.

Verse 4:92 — Accidental Killing of a Believer

"It is not for a believer to kill a believer except by mistake..."

This verse establishes two obligations for accidental killing:

• Freeing a believing slave (when slavery existed)

• Paying blood money (diyah) to the victim's family unless they remit it

Related Hadith

The Prophet ﷺ ruled concerning accidental killings and compensation.

Narrated by Abu Hurairah:

Two women from the tribe of Hudhayl fought, and one threw a stone at the other, killing her and the child in her womb. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ ruled that compensation was due for the unborn child and that the blood money was to be paid by the killer's relatives.

Sources

• Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Blood Money (Kitab ad-Diyat)

• Sahih Muslim, Book of Qasamah and Blood Money

This hadith illustrates the Prophet's application of financial compensation in cases of unlawful killing.

Verse 4:93 — Intentional Killing of a Believer

"Whoever kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell..."

Related Hadiths

1. One of the Greatest Major Sins

Narrated by Abdullah ibn Mas'ud:

A man asked the Prophet ﷺ:

"Which sin is the greatest?"

He replied:

"To associate partners with Allah while He created you."

The man asked:

"Then what?"

He replied:

"To kill your child for fear that he will eat with you."

Then:

"To commit adultery with your neighbor's wife."

Sources

• Sahih al-Bukhari

• Sahih Muslim

2. The Gravity of Unlawful Killing

Narrated by Abdullah ibn Umar:

The Prophet ﷺ said:

"A believer remains within the scope of his religion as long as he does not unlawfully shed blood."

Source

• Sahih al-Bukhari

3. First Matter Judged on the Day of Resurrection

Narrated by Abdullah ibn Mas'ud:

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

"The first cases to be judged among the people on the Day of Resurrection will be those of bloodshed."

Sources

• Sahih al-Bukhari

• Sahih Muslim

These narrations emphasize the seriousness reflected in verse 4:93.

Verse 4:94 — Verify Before Acting

"When you go forth in the cause of Allah, investigate carefully, and do not say to one who offers you peace, 'You are not a believer'..."

The Main Hadith Explaining This Verse

Incident of Usamah ibn Zayd

Narrated by Usamah ibn Zayd:

During a military expedition, he overtook a man. When the man was about to be struck, he said:

"La ilaha illa Allah."

Usamah nevertheless killed him, thinking he had only said it to save himself.

When the Prophet ﷺ learned of this, he repeatedly asked:

"Did you kill him after he said 'La ilaha illa Allah'?"

Usamah replied:

"He only said it seeking protection."

The Prophet ﷺ continued saying:

"Did you split open his heart to know whether he was truthful or not?"

Usamah said the Prophet repeated this so much that he wished he had only embraced Islam that day (so that his previous sins would have been forgiven).

Sources

• Sahih al-Bukhari

• Sahih Muslim

This is the most famous hadith connected to verse 4:94.

Another Report on the Cause of Revelation

Several early tafsir works report that a Muslim encountered a man who greeted him with:

"As-salamu alaykum."

The Muslim assumed he was only pretending to be Muslim and killed him, taking his property. Thereafter Allah revealed verse 4:94.

This report is recorded in classical tafsir literature, including:

• Abdullah ibn Abbas narrations

• Tafsir al-Tabari

• Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Summary

Verse 4:92

Theme: Accidental killing and compensation.

Related Sunnah: The Prophet ﷺ established rules of blood money (diyah) and compensation in accidental killings.

Verse 4:93

Theme: Severe warning against intentional murder.

Related Sunnah:

• Unlawful killing is among the gravest sins.

• Bloodshed is among the first matters judged on the Day of Resurrection.

Verse 4:94

Theme: Verify facts and do not judge faith hastily.

Related Sunnah:

• The incident of Usamah ibn Zayd is the clearest explanation.

• The Prophet ﷺ strongly condemned killing someone who had professed faith or offered the greeting of peace without clear evidence of hostility.

Together, verses 4:92–94 establish three major Islamic principles: sanctity of life, accountability for bloodshed, and careful verification before judgment or actio