Prohibition of Frightening Another Muslim
📖Sunan Abi Dawud 5004
Narrated AbdurRahman ibn AbuLayla: The Companions of the Prophet ﷺ told us that they were travelling with the Prophet ﷺ. A man among them fell asleep, and another took his rope, which startled him. The Prophet ﷺ said: “It is not lawful for a Muslim to frighten another Muslim.”
Description:
This hadith shows the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ strictly forbade frightening or terrorizing others, even as a joke. The incident occurred when a companion took another’s rope while he slept, causing him to wake up in fear. The Prophet ﷺ condemned it, teaching that causing fear, stress, or harm, physically or emotionally, to a fellow Muslim is haram (forbidden). It highlights Islam’s deep respect for others’ peace and dignity.
What about non-Muslims?
The same principle extends to non-Muslims: it is forbidden to cause them fear or harm unjustly. Islam commands fair, kind, and just treatment toward everyone, regardless of faith. The Prophet ﷺ himself warned against harming non-Muslims living peacefully among Muslims (dhimmis) and taught that those who oppress them will face Allah’s judgment.
Relevant hadith on non-Muslims:
📖Sahih al-Bukhari 3166
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever kills a person who has a treaty with the Muslims will never smell the fragrance of Paradise, though its fragrance can be smelled at a distance of forty years’ travel.
📖Sunan Abi Dawud 5154
Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “He who believes in Allah and the Last Day should not harm his neighbor.”
Quranic Context:
📖Quran 16:90
Indeed, Allah commands justice, good conduct, and giving to relatives; and forbids immorality, bad conduct, and oppression. He admonishes you that perhaps you will be reminded.
Justice and kindness are universal commands applying to all human beings.
📖Quran 60:8
Allah does not forbid you from those who do not fight you because of religion and do not expel you from your homes — from being righteous toward them and acting justly toward them. Indeed, Allah loves those who act justly.
This explicitly calls for righteous and just behavior toward peaceful non-Muslims.
📖Quran 49:11
O you who have believed, let not a people ridicule [another] people; perhaps they may be better than them.
Mockery, bullying, or frightening others is forbidden, underscoring respect for human dignity across all communities.