How can the principle of "No soul shall bear the burden of another" be reconciled with the saying of the Messenger, "Verily, the son of Adam bears the burden of every murderer," knowing that Qabil did not order anyone to kill, and what is the way out of this dilemma?
The first criminal who instituted murder was Qabil (Cain). He bears a share of the sin of every killer who murders unjustly, because he was the first to initiate this evil practice. It is mentioned in the noble Hadith that "Whoever introduces a bad practice in Islam will bear its sin and the sin of those who act upon it until the Day of Resurrection." Qabil's regret was not a regret of repentance, but rather a regret for the loss of his brother, or for the burden of carrying his corpse. As for one who repents of his sin, he does not bear the burdens of those who act upon it. Similarly, whoever introduces an innovation or an injustice, and people follow him in it, he bears the sin of those who act upon it until the Day of Resurrection, unless he repents. Killing one soul unjustly is like killing all of humanity, and saving one is like saving all of humanity. The Christian doctrine that a person bears the sin of another is incorrect, for every soul is a pledge for what it has earned.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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