Surah An-Nisaa (4) — Ayah 93

(Ayah 93){ وَ مَنْ يَّقْتُلْ مُؤْمِنًا مُّتَعَمِّدًا … :} After stating the ruling of accidental killing, in this verse the ruling of intentional killing (deliberately killing) is mentioned. One ruling has already been stated, that in this case, retribution (qisas) or blood money (diyat) is obligatory, or the heirs of the slain may forgive some part. (See Al-Baqarah: 178) Here, only its sin and warning are mentioned. In several verses, Allah Almighty has mentioned this crime alongside associating partners with Allah, and here it is said that its recompense is Hell, in which he will abide forever, and Allah is angry with him, and has cursed him, and has prepared for him a great punishment. By mentioning such severe punishments together, the severity of this sin can be gauged, and apparently, it seems that the one who deliberately kills a believer is an eternal inhabitant of Hell and even his repentance is not accepted. However, in Surah Al-Furqan (68), the acceptance of repentance for intentional killing is mentioned. Now, some commentators say that the repentance for deliberately killing a believer is accepted only if he committed this murder in the state of disbelief; if a Muslim kills another Muslim after accepting Islam, then his repentance is not accepted, rather the words of {”خٰلِدًا فِيْهَا“} prove his eternal damnation. The inclination of Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) is also towards this. [ بخاری، التفسیر، باب قولہ : «والذین لایدعون…» : ۴۷۶۲ ] However, most of the predecessors are of the opinion that his repentance is accepted, because (1) There is no sin greater than associating partners with Allah, and if that can be forgiven through repentance, then this can also be forgiven. (2) In this verse, it is not said that he will remain in the Fire forever, rather it is said (that this crime is so great) that its recompense is to abide forever in Hell, but if Allah wills, He may forgive after repentance or even without repentance, as He said: «{ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ لَا يَغْفِرُ اَنْ يُّشْرَكَ بِهٖ وَ يَغْفِرُ مَا دُوْنَ ذٰلِكَ لِمَنْ يَّشَآءُ }» [ النساء : ۴۸ ] "Indeed, Allah does not forgive associating partners with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills." Therefore, this is subject to Allah's will; if He wills, He may forgive after punishment, or if He wills, He may forgive without punishment. Especially after repentance, there is a clear glad tiding: «{ لَا تَقْنَطُوْا مِنْ رَّحْمَةِ اللّٰهِ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوْبَ جَمِيْعًا }» [ الزمر : ۵۳ ] "Do not despair of the mercy of Allah; indeed, Allah forgives all sins." (3) The incident of the Muslim from the Children of Israel who had killed a hundred people is also evidence for the acceptance of repentance for intentional killing. [بخاری، أحادیث الأنبیاء، باب : ۳۴۷۰ ]

Some scholars have said that the intentional killer is an eternal inhabitant of Hell who considers this act permissible, because considering something forbidden by Shariah as lawful is disbelief, and the blessings of Paradise are forbidden for disbelievers, as He said: «{ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ حَرَّمَهُمَا عَلَى الْكٰفِرِيْنَ}» [ الأعراف : ۵۰ ] "Indeed, Allah has forbidden these two things for the disbelievers." Indeed, Allah has forbidden (the water and provision of Paradise) both things for the disbelievers, but in this case, the cause of his eternal stay in Hell will not be intentional killing, but disbelief.