Ibn `Abbas held the view that the repentance of one who intentionally murders a
believer, will not be accepted. Al-Bukhari recorded that Ibn Jubayr said, "The people
of knowledge of Al-Kufah differed on this subject, I traveled to Ibn `Abbas to ask
him about it. He said, `This Ayah,
﴿وَمَن يَقْتُلْ مُؤْمِناً مُّتَعَمِّداً
فَجَزَآؤُهُ جَهَنَّمُ﴾
(And whoever kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell) was the last
revealed ﴿on this subject﴾ and nothing abrogated it.''' Muslim and An-Nasa'i also
recorded it. However, the majority of scholars of the earlier and later generations
said that the killer's repentance can be accepted. If he repents, and goes back
to Allah humbly, submissively, and performing righteous deeds, then Allah will change
his evil deeds into good deeds and compensate the deceased for his loss by rewarding
him for his suffering. Allah said, R
﴿وَالَّذِينَ لاَ يَدْعُونَ مَعَ اللَّهِ
إِلَـهَا ءَاخَرَ﴾
(And those who invoke not any other god along with Allah), until,
﴿إِلاَّ مَن تَابَ وَءَامَنَ وَعَمِلَ
عَمَلاً صَـلِحاً﴾
(Except those who repent and believe, and do righteous deeds). The Ayah we just
mentioned should not be considered abrogated or only applicable to the disbelievers
﴿who become Muslim﴾, for this contradicts the general, encompassing indications
of the Ayah and requires evidence to support it. Allah knows best. Allah said,
﴿قُلْ يعِبَادِىَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُواْ
عَلَى أَنفُسِهِمْ لاَ تَقْنَطُواْ مِن رَّحْمَةِ اللَّهِ﴾
(Say: "O My servants who have transgressed against themselves! Despair not of the
mercy of Allah). This Ayah is general, covering all types of sins, including Kufr,
Shirk, doubt, hypocrisy, murder, sin, and so forth. Therefore, everyone who repents
sincerely from any of these errors, then Allah will forgive him. Allah said,
﴿إِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يَغْفِرُ أَن يُشْرَكَ
بِهِ وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَلِكَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ﴾
(Verily, Allah forgives not that partners should be set up with Him (in worship),
but He forgives except that (anything else) to whom He wills). This Ayah is general
and includes every sin except Shirk, and it has been mentioned in this Surah, both
after this Ayah and before it, in order to encourage hope in Allah, and Allah knows
best. It is confirmed in the Two Sahihs, that an Israeli killed one hundred people
then he asked a scholar, "Is it possible for me to repent'' So he replied, "What
is there that would prevent you from repentance'' So he told him to go to another
land where Allah was worshipped. He began to emigrate to it but died on the way,
and the angel of mercy was the one to take him. Although this Hadith is about an
Israeli, it is even more suitable for the Muslim community that their repentance
be accepted. Indeed, Allah relieved Muslims from the burdens and restrictions that
were placed on the Jews, and He sent our Prophet with the easy Hanifiyyah way (Islamic
Monotheism). As for the honorable Ayah,
﴿وَمَن يَقْتُلْ مُؤْمِناً مُّتَعَمِّداً﴾
(And whoever kills a believer intentionally), Abu Hurayrah and several among the
Salaf said that this is his punishment, if Allah decides to punish him. And this
is the case with every threat that is issued for every sin. For instance, there
could be good deeds that this person has done that would prevent him from being
punished for that, and Allah knows best. Even if the murderer inevitably enters
the Fire -- as Ibn `Abbas stated because his repentance was not accepted, or he
did not have good deeds to save him, he will not remain there for eternity, but
only for a long time. There are Mutawatir Hadiths stating that the Messenger of
Allah said,
«إِنَّهُ يَخْرُجُ مِنَ النَّارِ مَنْ
كَانَ فِي قَلْبِهِ أَدْنَى ذَرَّةٍ مِنْ إِيمَان»
(Whoever has the least speck of faith in his heart shall ultimately depart the Fire.)
﴿يَـأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ
ءَامَنُواْ إِذَا ضَرَبْتُمْ فِى سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَتَبَيَّنُواْ وَلاَ تَقُولُواْ
لِمَنْ أَلْقَى إِلَيْكُمُ السَّلَـمَ لَسْتَ مُؤْمِناً تَبْتَغُونَ عَرَضَ الْحَيَوةِ
الدُّنْيَا فَعِنْدَ اللَّهِ مَغَانِمُ كَثِيرَةٌ كَذلِكَ كُنتُمْ مِّن قَبْلُ فَمَنَّ
اللَّهُ عَلَيْكُمْ فَتَبَيَّنُواْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيراً
﴾
(94. O you who believe! When you go (to fight) in the cause of Allah, verify (the
truth), and say not to anyone who greets you: "You are not a believer;'' seeking
the perishable goods of the worldly life. There is much more benefit with Allah.
Even as he is now, so were you yourselves before, till Allah conferred on you His
Favors, therefore, be cautious in discrimination. Allah is Ever Well-Aware of what
you do.)