Islam has given a great value to human bloodshed so much so that the murder of one person is regarded as the murder of a nation. Verse 32 of Surah Maidah says: “If anyone killed a person but not in retaliation of a murder or to create mischief in the land then it would be as if he killed all mankind.”

The murder of a believer leads to eternal damnation, the wrath of God and the severest punishment. The verse 93 of Surah Nisaa says:

“And whoever kills a believer intentionally will be damned to Hell for ever. The wrath and the curse of God are upon him and so is the severest punishment.”

The murderer of a believer has been prescribed four great punishments in the hereafter; to live in Hell eternally, the wrath of God, the curse of God and the great chastisement. This reflects the importance Islam has given to the life and blood of a believer because this kind of punishment has not been prescribed elsewhere in the Qura’n. (1)

1. Any one who kills another person but not as retribution will be deemed to have killed the entire mankind.