Ruling on Killing Someone in Self-Defense
Written by: Imran Ayub Lahori
❖ Ruling:
If a person kills someone in self-defense, then there is no diyah (blood money) and no kafarah (expiation) upon him.
As narrated:
A man came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and asked:
“What if someone wants to take my wealth?” The Prophet (ﷺ) replied: “Do not give it to him.”
He asked: “What if he fights me?” The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Then fight him.”
He asked: “What if he kills me?” The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Then you are a martyr.”
He asked: “What if I kill him?” The Prophet (ﷺ) replied:
فهو في النار
“Then he will be in the Fire.”
(Muslim: 140; Musnad Ahmad: 2/339)
❖ Scholarly Note:
✿ Sayyid Sabiq (رحمه الله) said:
If someone claims defensive killing and provides proof and evidence, then qisas and diyah are waived. Otherwise, he will be handed over to the heirs of the slain person, who may either kill him (qisas) or pardon him.
(Fiqh al-Sunnah, 3/75)
