Abu Shuraih al-Khuza'i told that he heard God's Messenger say, “If a relative of anyone is killed, or if he suffers khabal, which means a wound, he may choose one of three things, but if he wants anything more* you must restrain him. He may retaliate, or forgive, or receive compensation; but if he accepts one of these and afterwards asks something more, he will go to hell for ever and ever.”
‘Ali reported the Prophet as saying, “The lives of all Muslims are equal; the lowliest of them can guarantee their protection, the most distant can keep others from breaking protection he has given,* and they are one band against others. A Muslim must not be killed for an infidel, nor must one who has been given a covenant be killed while his covenant holds.”
Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it, and Ibn Majah transmitted it on the authority of Ibn ‘Abbas.
* The interpretation which seems to be preferred is that no matter how far one may live from the land of infidels, any protection one may guarantee to an infidel must be respected by all Muslims. Another possible explanation is that when a detachment is sent ahead into infidel country those who remain behind them are entitled to their portion of any spoil they take, but it is felt that this meaning does not suit the context. The Arabic words are wa-yaruddu 'alaihim aqsahum.
Ta’us, on the authority of Ibn ‘Abbas, reported God’s Messenger as saying, “If anyone is killed in error when people are throwing stones, or by beating with whips, or striking with a stick, it is accidental and the compensation for accidental death is due.* But if anyone kills someone deliberately retaliation is due, and if anyone tries to prevent it God’s curse and anger will rest on him, and neither supererogatory nor obligatory acts will be accepted from him.”
Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it.
*These are instances in which the actual person who killed him is not clearly known, or where there was no intention to kill.
'Amr b. Shu'aib, on his father’s authority, said his grandfather reported God’s Messenger as saying, “If anyone kills a man deliberately he is to be handed over to the relatives of the one who has been killed. If they wish they may kill him, but if they wish they may accept blood wit, which is thirty she-camels in their fourth year, thirty in their fifth year, and forty pregnant she-camels. Any arrangement they make with him is for them to decide.”
