Honor Killing in Islam

Islam gives tacit support to the despicable act known as honor killing. In Quran the story of Khidr depicts killing of a young boy because he was going to become an evil individual.

The arabic word Ghira has wide range of meanings. It could mean:

• Honor
• Self-respect
• Protective Jealousy
• A feeling of fury with great anger when one's honor and prestige is challenged or injured.


According to islamic hadith, in Vol. 8, Book 82, Hadith 829 it was Narrated by Al-Mughira that:

Sa`d bin Ubada said, "If I found a man with my wife, I would kill him with the sharp side of my sword." When the Prophet heard that he said, "Do you wonder at Sa`d's sense of ghira (self-respect)? Verily, I have more sense of ghira than Sa`d, and Allah has more sense of ghira than I."

More aHadith on Ghira.

Umar's Refusal Of A Gift For His Wife

Ibn ‘Umar said:

Abu Moosa Al-Ash’ari gave a mat to ‘Umar’s wife ‘Aatikah Bint Zayd, and I think that it was one cubit and a handspan. ‘Umar saw it with her and said, “ Where did you get this from?

She said, “ Abu Moosa Al-Ash’ari gave it to me. ‘Umar took it and hit her with it, then he said, “ Bring Abu Moosa to me.

“So he was brought to him and he (Abu Moosa Al-Ash’ari) said, “Don’t be hasty, O’ Ameer Al-Mu’mineen (Leader of the believers).

‘Umar said, “ What madeyou give gifts to my womenfolk?” Then ‘Umar took it and hit him with it, and said, “Take it, we have no need for it.

[Taken from 'Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab, His Life AndTimes, By 'Ali Muhammad As-Sallaabi, Vol. I, Pp. 134-135 & 251]

A father who kills his child must NOT be subject to punishment (retaliation). The first text is “Umdat al-Saliq” or “Reliance of the Traveller”, a manual of Islamic law certified in 1991 as a reliable guide to Sunni Islam by Cairo’s renowned al-Azhar University, the most prestigious and authoritative institute ofSunni Islamic jurisprudence in the world. This manual, composed in the 14th century,states that punishment or “retaliation is obligatory against anyone who kills a human being purely intentionally and withoutright” EXCEPT when “a father or mother (or their fathers or mothers)” kills their “offspring, or offspring’s offspring” (section o1.1-2).

In other words, a parent who murders his/her child for the sake of honour, is not penalized under Islamic law or Shariah.

This book is by no means an irrelevant or outdated document, and its rulings, including those on the subject of retaliation for murder, are legally binding and not subject for debate.

Another text that supports the immunity for parents who kill their children was written by the Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini (1902-1989), an authority of Shi'ite Islam who led the Iranian Islamic revolution in 1979. In his book “Resaleh Towzih Al-Massael” or “A Clarification of Questions” published in 1961, Khomeini specifies under “conditions of retaliation” (section 2.3 of Appendix II) that there is no penalty for a father who kills his child, the father will simply not be punished under Islamic law. A killer is punished if: “The slayer is not the father of the slain, nor the parental grandfather (apparently)”.

Both aforementioned Sunni and Shiite texts support the practice of honour killing in Islam, contrary to muslims' claim, and serve as authentic and authoritative sources of Islamic law to this day.