Hadith: [When two Muslims draw swords against each other, both the killer and the killed will go to Hell]
Reference: (Sahih Bukhari: 31, Sahih Muslim: 2888)
What does this mean? While in the Holy Quran it is stated:وَاِنْ طَاۗىِٕفَتٰنِ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ اقْتَتَلُوْا فَاَصْلِحُوْا بَيْنَهُمَا ۚ فَاِنْۢ بَغَتْ اِحْدٰىهُمَا عَلَي الْاُخْرٰى فَقَاتِلُوا الَّتِيْ تَبْغِيْ حَتّٰى تَفِيْۗءَ اِلٰٓى اَمْرِ اللّٰهِ ۚ فَاِنْ فَاۗءَتْ فَاَصْلِحُوْا بَيْنَهُمَا بِالْعَدْلِ وَاَقْسِطُوْا ۭ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُقْسِطِيْنَ
Reference: (Al-Hujurat: 9)
Translation: And if two groups of believers fight each other, then make peace between them. But if one group oppresses the other, then fight against the oppressors until they return to the command of Allah. And when they return, then make reconciliation between them with justice and fairness. Indeed, Allah loves those who act justly.
In this verse, the command is to fight the group that is at fault, which shows that both are not equal, whereas in the hadith both the killer and the killed are declared to be in Hell.
First Point
There is no contradiction between the mentioned hadith and the Holy Quran because the same hadith clarifies that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was asked: One person is the killer and will go to Hell, but what was the fault of the killed? The Prophet ﷺ replied:
إنَّهُ كَانَ حَرِيصًا عَلَى قَتْلِ صَاحِبِهِ
Reference: Sahih Bukhari: 6861
Translation: He also desired to kill his companion.
From these words, it is understood that the victim was also continuously seeking and had the intention, but the killer took the lead.
Whereas in the verse of the Holy Quran, the situation described is that one group has the intention and the other group does not. That is, it teaches to stand against the rebellious group and help the oppressed group, while the purpose of the Hadith is entirely different. Therefore, there is no contradiction.
Second Point
From the previous point, it became clear who is the subject of this Hadith. Therefore, this Hadith does not apply to the victim who is killed while defending his wealth, life, and honor; rather, such a victim is called a martyr.
Reference: (Sahih Bukhari: 2480, Jami` at-Tirmidhi: 1421)
Imam Nawawi, may Allah have mercy on him, says: "Whoever intends to commit a sin and keeps looking for an opportunity to carry it out, and nothing prevents him except the lack of opportunity, then he is sinful even if he does not commit the sin."
Reference: (Sharh Sahih Muslim 18/12)
Third Point
On what occasion did Abu Bakrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrate this hadith?
In Sahih Bukhari, it is mentioned: Al-Ahnaf bin Qais says: I went to support this person
Reference: (Sayyidina Ali, may Allah be pleased with him)
. On the way, I met Sayyidina Abu Bakrah (may Allah be pleased with him). He asked: Where are you intending to go? I said: I intend to help this person. He said: Return. I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: [When two Muslims raise the sword against each other, both the killer and the killed will be in Hell]
Reference: (Sahih Bukhari: 31)
.
Reference: Sahih Muslim (2888)
mentions that Al-Ahnaf bin Qais wanted to support Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), and
Reference: Sahih Bukhari (7083)
also points to this.Hafiz Ibn Hajar explained that this happened at the time of the Battle of Jamal when Al-Ahnaf bin Qais wanted to support Sayyidina Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) but stopped after hearing this hadith and participated with him in other battles.
Reference: (Fath al-Bari: 1/86)
From this detail, it is understood that the mentioned hadith is not against the Holy Quran, and it is also understood that if two people are involved in a task, one of them does it and the other, despite desire, is unable to do it, then if the task is of good deed, both receive equal reward, and if the task is sinful, both bear equal sin.
