And this is the reason behind His words, exalted be He: “Whoever kills a believer deliberately—his recompense is Hell, wherein he will abide forever; Allah is angry with him, curses him, and has prepared for him a tremendous punishment” (al-Nisāʾ 4:93). The verse specifies five punishments—may Allah protect us: Hell itself; everlasting residence therein; Allah’s wrath; His curse; and a mighty torment. These await anyone who deliberately kills a believer, for by spilling inviolable blood his religion becomes constricted, his breast tightens, until he slips completely out of the faith and joins the people of the Fire who will dwell there eternally.

This shows that shedding forbidden blood is categorically one of the major sins; there is no doubt about it, for killing a soul whom Allah has forbidden—without right—is among the gravest of offenses.

Yet if a person repents after committing such a murder, is his repentance accepted? The majority of scholars say that it is, citing the general meaning of Allah’s words:

“Those who do not call upon another deity along with Allah, nor kill a soul whose life Allah has made sacred except with right, nor commit fornication—whoever does any of that will meet a penalty; the punishment will be doubled for him on the Day of Resurrection, and he will abide therein humiliated—except those who repent, believe, and do righteous deeds; for such people Allah will exchange their evil deeds for good. Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful. And whoever repents and acts righteously has truly turned to Allah in repentance” (al-Furqān 25:68–71).

He, the Most High, also says: “Say, ‘My servants who have transgressed against themselves, do not despair of Allah’s mercy. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins; He is the All-Forgiving, the Most Merciful’” (al-Zumar 39:53).

But what, precisely, makes repentance complete? Deliberately killing a believer affects three separate rights: first, the right of Allah; second, the right of the slain; and third, the right of