The Qur'an and Hadiths on 'Honor Killing'
How 'One who learned wisdom from Allah' dealt with a rebellious child
A shocking, and perversely named, practice called ‘honor killing’ is common in some parts of the Muslim world. This is where members of the community (usually family members) kill a person whom they believe had strayed beyond the boundaries of Islamic belief and practice. Muslim apologists are quick to assure us that honor killings arise from cultural rather than religious sensibilities. In other words, it is claimed that Islam has nothing to do with it. Is this necessarily the case?
Chapter 18 of the Qur’an tells the story of Khidr whom Allah describes as: “...one of our servants on whom we had bestowed Mercy from Ourselves and whom we had taught knowledge from Our own Presence.” Khidr was such a remarkable figure that even Moses wanted to accompany him to learn from him (Qur’an 18:66). Khidr agrees that Moses may accompany him provided that he does not ask him questions but simply observes. He then goes on to do some strange things (sinking a boat, killing a child, building a wall in a city where they were received with hostility). Every time Moses could not help himself and responds to Khidr’s very strange actions by constantly asking questions, much to the irritation of Khidr.
In the end all is revealed (Qur’an 16:71-82). The boat belonged to poor people and a king might have stolen it if it were still afloat. They will now be able to re-float it and will not have suffered any loss. The wall that he built covered a hidden treasure intended for two orphaned boys who will discover it later in life.
It is Khidr’s explanation of why he murdered the boy that is particularly relevant to this discussion. Here is how Khidr explains the murder of the boy: “As for the boy, his parents were believers, and we feared that he would overburden them by transgression and disbelief. So we intended that their Lord should substitute for them one better than him in purity and nearer to mercy” (Qur’an 18:80-81)
In this explanation we have a clear example from the Qur’an of what can only be described as an honor killing. The boy is summarily dispatched by this great servant of Allah simply because he is rebellious and disbelieving (or may become so). He clearly had no chance to defend himself or to reform his lifestyle to become a better son to his parents. Instead, he was simply killed. It is not difficult to work out why at least some Muslims see justification for honor killing in this passage as it establishes the principle that a child who brings shame to his parents by not being a fully devoted follower of Allah is better off dead.
The clear implication of this part of the Qur’an, namely that it is permissible for members of the Muslim community to take the law into their own hands to enforce obedience to Islam, is reinforced by several hadiths. In the following chilling hadith, Muhammad makes the command to kill children who are less than enthusiastic in their commitment to Islam explicit: “I heard Allah's Apostle saying, "During the last days there will appear some young foolish people who will say the best words but their faith will not go beyond their throats (i.e., they will have no faith) and will go out from (leave) their religion as an arrow goes out of the game. So, where-ever you find them, kill them, for who-ever kills them shall have reward on the Day of Resurrection." (Sahih Bukhari 9:84:64)
The practice of killing children who may walk away from fully embracing all aspects of Islam is not only something that will happen during the ‘last days’ (whenever that may be). It was also the practice of those who lived during the time of Muhammad. In the following example the conduct of Khidr is quoted as justification for this practice: “The Messenger of Allah used not to kill the children, so thou shouldst not kill them unless you could know what Khadir had known about the child he killed, or you could distinguish between a child who would grow up to be a believer (and a child who would grow up to be a non-believer), so that you killed the (prospective) non-believer and left the (prospective) believer aside.” (Sahih Muslim 19:4457)
So, is honor killing merely a cultural phenomenon, totally unrelated to the teachings of Islam? The story of Khidr and the clear commands of Muhammad as presented in Sahih Bukhari suggest the opposite and confirm the legitimacy of direct violent action against people (especially children) who stray from the ‘straight path’ of Islam.
For much more on some of the troubling teachings of Islam, see my book ‘Questioning Islam - Tough Questions and Honest Answers About the Muslim Religion’.
Kind regards,
Peter
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