The Sanctity of Muslim Blood: Explanation of Hadith 14 of the Forty Nawawi

He (RH) said: The fourteenth hadith.

On the authority of Ibn Mas'ud (RA) that he said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

"It is not permissible to spill the blood of a Muslim except in one of three cases:

the married adulterer, a life for a life, and the one who abandons his religion and splits from the community."

Narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim.

Yes, this hadith, the hadith of Ibn Mas'ud (RA),

contains an indication of two matters. First:

the preservation of a Muslim's blood except by one of the factors

that permit killing him.

The scholars have used this general rule to argue that

that ta'zir by death is not permissible, which is the majority view,

except Malik, or many of the companions of Imam Malik (RH),

and one of the two narrations from Ahmad.

Otherwise, the majority holds that killing is only permissible in qisas,

or due to leaving the religion, which is apostasy,

and anything beyond that is not permissible.

These ramifications are based on the rule I mentioned earlier,

even though some scholars have argued for them

using evidence that constitutes exceptions to the general principle.

The second rule or ruling that we derive from this Hadith

is that this hadith clarifies the gravest of major sins.

It mentions three actions that are among the gravest of major sins:

First, abandoning the religion, which is apostasy—

associating partners with Allah ﷻ. There is no doubt that

shirk is the greatest, gravest, and most severe of major sins.

The second is adultery, when he said, "the married adulterer."

Adultery is one of the gravest of major sins,

but execution by stoning is not carried out unless they are married (muhsan).

The third is taking a life unlawfully.

These major sins entail a number of rulings.

Whoever commits any major sin loses their uprightness ('adalah).

And whoever loses uprightness faces

many consequences regarding testimony, leadership, and other matters.

Yes. May Allah bless him.