of this day of yours, in this month of yours, and in this land of yours.” (1) He declared these words in his sermon at Minā on the Day of Sacrifice.

Can anything be more emphatic than that? Indeed, the believer’s inviolability in the sight of Allah is greater than the sanctity of the Kaʿbah, for when the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, looked at the Kaʿbah he said, “How great is your sanctity! Yet the sanctity of a Muslim is greater with Allah than yours,” or words to that effect. (2)

He, peace and blessings be upon him, also said, “The blood of a Muslim is not lawful except in one of three cases: a previously married adulterer, a life for a life, and one who abandons his religion and separates from the community.” (3)

First: the previously married adulterer—namely, a person who has already had marital relations in a valid marriage while both spouses were sane, mature, and free. If such a person commits adultery, he or she is to be stoned to death.

Second: if a Muslim unlawfully attacks another Muslim and deliberately kills him, and the heirs of the victim demand retribution, the killer is to be put to death—“O you who believe, prescribed for you is …”