Is it permissible for me to defend myself, and what if that leads to the death of the aggressor without intending to kill, but rather in self-defense? And how can self-defense be reconciled with the hadith: "Be the slain servant of Allah"?
It is stated in the Hadith that if someone comes intending to take a person's property, that person should not give him their property. If he fights him, he should fight him. If he is killed, he is a martyr, and if he kills him, the killer is in the Fire. The majority of scholars agree on the permissibility of killing anyone who intends to take property unjustly, whether the property is little or much, and on the obligation to defend one's sanctity (honor and family) without dispute. It is permissible for a man to fight in defense of himself, his family, and his property if injustice is intended. However, it is not permissible to rebel against the ruler and fight him if preventing injustice is not possible except through such means. As for the Hadith, "Be the slain servant of Allah," it indicates the desirability of surrender if the killer is a Muslim, or if he can be repelled without killing.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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