Whoever Kills a Believer Intentionally — The Greatest Crime in Islam
fiqh
Level: intermediate
hudud
fqh-050
وَمَن يَقۡتُلۡ مُؤۡمِنٗا مُّتَعَمِّدٗا فَجَزَآؤُهُۥ جَهَنَّمُ
— النساء 93
Verse: "Whoever kills a believer intentionally — his recompense is Hell, remaining in it, and Allah has worsened his anger upon him and cursed him and prepared for him a great punishment." (4:93)
Harshest verse on intentional killing: Five punishments combined — hellfire + eternally remaining + Allah's anger + curse + great punishment. Not gathered like this for any other major sin.
"Intentionally": The decisive condition — accidental killing has different, lighter rulings. The intentional killer is one who deliberately takes a life.
Source: Al-Qurtubi (5/326); Ibn Al-Arabi (1/455); Ibn Qudama (8/290)
Question: What are the four punishments mentioned in the verse for intentional murder of a believer?
Answer: Hellfire + remaining in it + Allah's anger + His curse + great punishment — actually five in one verse.