Killing a person in self-defence
Question
If one is attacked by a stranger and his intention is to kill you, to what extent can one defend himself? If the person will not stop until he has killed you, can one kill the attacker in this case?
Answer
There is no problem if you kill him defending yourself or your wealth. It is recorded in a narration of Saheeh Muslim that a person came to Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam and said, “O messenger of Allah! Tell me, what if a person comes with intention of taking my wealth?” Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam said, “Do not give it to him.” The person said, Tell me, what if he kills me? Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam said, “Then you are a martyr.” The man asked, “Tell me, what if I kill him?” Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam, “He will be in the fire of Jahannam.”
References (Arabic / Urdu sources)
وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال: «جاء رجل فقال: يا رسول الله أرأيت إن جاء رجل يريد أخذ مالي؟ قال: (فلا تعطه مالك) قال: أرأيت إن قاتلني؟ قال: (قاتله) . قال: أرأيت إن قتلني؟ قال: (فأنت شهيد) . قال: أرأيت إن قتلته؟ قال: (هو في النار» ) رواه مسلم.
- Answered by
- Mufti Mohammed Desai
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