Murder
The fifth Greater Sin is the murder of that person whose
execution has not been ordered by Allah (S.w.T.) and the Holy Prophet (S).
Traditions which confirm that murder is a Greater Sin have already been
mentioned at the beginning. Moreover the verses of the Holy Qur’an mention
clearly the Divine punishment for the murderers.
“And whoever kills a believer
intentionally, his punishment is Hell; he shall abide in it, and Allah will
send His wrath on him and curse him and prepare for him a painful chastisement.” (Surah
an-Nisā’ 4:93)
Five types of punishments have been ordained for those who kill
the believers. First, Hell; Second, Eternal abode in Hell; Third, involvement
in the Divine wrath; Fourth, being the accursed by Allah (S.w.T.); Fifth, the
Great Chastisement.
Permanent Chastisement is Exclusively For unbelievers
One of the beliefs of the Shia Ithna Ashari school of thought is
that eternal punishment is only for the Kuffar (Unbelievers). In other words,
if a person dies in belief, he will not remain under punishment forever, even
if he has killed a believer (or someone else whose killing has been prohibited
according to the Divine command), or even though he has committed other greater
sins. Hence the verse mentioned above has been explained in various ways. One
possible explanation is that: one becomes eligible for eternal punishment only
if he murders the believer because of his Imān (belief). If such is the case,
then, the killer is indeed liable for everlasting chastisement, for he
considered the murder of a Mu’min as Halāl, whereas it is Harām. To consider a
murder of a believer Harām is an article of faith. Consequently one who does
not have this belief is a Kafir.