Islam is keen to protect people’s lives and forbids harming them by any means, and it has set out some precautions that are needed for that purpose. In this hadith, Abu Musa al-Ash‘ari (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) instructed that anyone who passes any crowded place, whether it is a mosque or a marketplace, and he is carrying arrows – which are sticks with sharp pointed heads; the ruling applies to any sharp weapon – should carry them by their heads, holding their sharp edges in his hand or by any other means. While passing through that place, he should be very cautious, so as to avoid injuring anyone with the arrows. This is an affirmation of the sanctity of the Muslims’ lives, and of the necessity of taking precautions not to transgress against them, because mosques are likely to have many people in them, especially at the times of prayer, and marketplaces are also likely to be crowded. This advice to take precautions came from the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) because he feared that someone might be harmed by that. This hadith highlights the noble character and compassion of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) towards the believers. It highlights how sacred the Muslim’s blood is, and it must not be shed whether in small or large amounts. It highlights the etiquette of carrying weapons; the one who carries a weapon must take precautions and be very careful to avoid causing injury to anyone. It indicates that it is permissible to pass through mosques, even though they are originally built for the purpose of worship, because there is a need for that..