‘With this chain also,’ Imran bin Husain (may Allah be pleased with both of them) says that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) sent us with a detachment, so a Muslim attacked a polytheist, then the narrator mentioned the same previous incident, and added that the earth threw him out. This was reported to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), so he said: “The earth accepts even worse people than him, but Allah Almighty wanted to show you how great is the sanctity of «لا إله إلا الله».” 1.
Hadith Referenceسنن ابن ماجه / كتاب الفتن / 3930M
Hadith Takhrij«تفرد بہ ابن ماجہ ، ( تحفة الأشراف : 10828 ) ، ومصباح الزجاجة : 1375 ) ( حسن ) » ( آخری عمر میں حفص بن غیاث کے حافظہ میں معمولی تبدیلی آ گئی تھی ، لیکن سابقہ طریق سے تقویت پاکر یہ حسن ہے ، بوصیری نے اس کی تحسین کی ہے )
1؎: When the disbeliever said «لا إله إلا الله», then he should have been left alone. This person did not show respect to this statement, so Allah Ta'ala showed you its consequence, so that in the future you may be mindful not to kill any Muslim.
´It was narrated from Sumait bin Sumair, that ‘Imran bin Husain said:` “Nafi’ bin Azraq and his companions came and said: ‘You are doomed, O ‘Imran!’ He (‘Imran) said: ‘I am not doomed.’ They said: ‘Yes you are.’ I said: ‘Why am I doomed?’ They said: ‘Allah says: “And fight them until there is no more Fitnah (disbelief and polytheism, i.e., worshipping others besides Allah), and the religion (worship) will be all for Allah Alone.”[8:39] He said: ‘We fought them until they were defeated and the religion was all for Allah Alone. If you wish, I will tell you a Hadith that I heard from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).’ They said: ‘Did you (really) hear it from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)?’ He said: ‘Yes. I was with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and he had sent an army of the Muslims to the idolaters. When they met them they fought them fiercely, and they (the idolaters) gave them their shoulders (i.e., turned and fled). A man among my kin attacked an idolator man with a spear, and when he was defeated he said: “I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah, I am a Muslim.” But he stabbed him and killed him. He came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and said: “O Messenger of Allah, I am doomed.” He said “What is it that you have done?” one or two times. He told him what he had done and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to him: “Why didn’t you cut open his belly and find out what was in his heart?” He said: “O Messenger of Allah, I wish I had cut open his belly and could have known what was in his heart.” He said: “You did not accept what he said, and you could not have known what was in his heart!” The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) remained silent concerning him (that man), and a short while later he died. We buried him, but the following morning he was on the surface of the earth. They said: “Perhaps an enemy of his disinterred him.” So we buried him (again) and told our slaves to stand guard. But the following morning he was on the surface of the earth again then we said: ‘Perhaps the slaves dozed off.’ So we buried him (again) and stood guard ourselves, but the following morning he was on the surface of the earth (again). So we threw him into one of these mountain passes.’”
Maulana Ataullah Sajid
Benefits and Issues: ➊ Sects of innovation such as the Khawarij emerged due to not understanding the religion in the correct manner.
➋ The understanding and knowledge of religion possessed by the noble Companions (radi Allahu anhum) was correct and complete. Therefore, especially in disputed matters—particularly in matters of creed—the understanding of the Companions (radi Allahu anhum) should be given importance, and issues should be understood in the light of their statements.
➌ The Khawarij rebelled against the Muslim caliphs. This was a wrong step, and it led to turmoil and corruption.
➍ Anyone who claims to be a Muslim should be regarded as a Muslim, and should be treated as Muslims are treated. If something becomes apparent from him that proves his disbelief, then he can be declared an apostate (murtadd) and punished accordingly. However, declaring someone a disbeliever merely on the basis of doubt or suspicion is a grave mistake.
➎ Allah, the Exalted, sometimes gives the punishment for a mistake in this world as well, so that others may take heed.
Source: Commentary on Sunan Ibn Mājah by Mawlānā ‘Atā’ullāh Sājid, Page: 3930