/ When two Muslims meet to fight each other with their swords, both the killer and the killed are doomed to Hellfire

When two Muslims meet to fight each other with their swords, both the killer and the killed are doomed to Hellfire

Abu Bakrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) say: "When two Muslims meet to fight each other with their swords, both the killer and the killed are doomed to Hellfire." I said: "O Messenger of Allah, that is the case with the killer, but what about the killed one?" He said: "Indeed, he was keen to kill his companion."
Narrated by Bukhari & Muslim

Explanation

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informs that if two Muslims fight each other with their swords, with each one intending to kill the other, the killer will be in Hellfire for the actual killing of his companion; but the Companions were confused regarding the killed one and why he would be in Hellfire! The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) explained that he, too, would be in Hellfire because of his keenness to kill his companion and that nothing prevented him except that his companion managed to kill him first.

Hadeeth benefits

  1. He who intends to commit a sin and engages in the means leading to it deserves the punishment.
  2. The Hadīth gives a stern warning regarding Muslims fighting one another and threatens them with Hellfire for that.
  3. Fighting among Muslims for a valid reason does not fall under this warning, such as fighting against aggressors and corrupters.
  4. The perpetrator of a major sin is not regarded as a disbeliever for its mere commission, as the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) named those fighting each other as Muslims.
  5. If two Muslims fight each other with any means of killing and one of them kills the other, both the killer and the killed one will be in Hellfire. The sword is mentioned in the Hadīth as an example.