Hadithcore
Sahih Muslim, 140
sahih

Abu Huraira reported:

A person came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and said: Messenger of Allah, what do you think if a man comes to me in order to appropriate my possession? He (the Prophet) said: Don't surrender your possession to him. He (the inquirer) said: If he fights me? He (the Prophet) remarked: Then fight (with him). He (the inquirer) again said: What do you think if I am killed? He (the Prophet) observed: You would be a martyr. He (the inquirer) said: What do you think of him (Messenger of Allah) If I kill him. He (the Prophet) said: he would be in the Fire.

حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو كُرَيْبٍ، مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْعَلاَءِ حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدٌ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ مَخْلَدٍ - حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، عَنِ الْعَلاَءِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ يُرِيدُ أَخْذَ مَالِي قَالَ ‏"‏ فَلاَ تُعْطِهِ مَالَكَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ قَاتَلَنِي قَالَ ‏"‏ قَاتِلْهُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ قَتَلَنِي قَالَ ‏"‏ فَأَنْتَ شَهِيدٌ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ قَتَلْتُهُ قَالَ ‏"‏ هُوَ فِي النَّارِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

References2 variants
In-Book Reference
Book 1, Hadith 267
USC-MSA web (English) reference
Book 1, Hadith 259 (deprecated numbering scheme)
Sharh · explanationclick to expand
Defending one's self and property, and repelling aggressors are obligatory in Islam to prevent this matter from being repeated to others. In this hadith, Abu Hurairah narrated that a man asked the Prophet if a man attacked and robbed him, what would he do? The Prophet said, "Do not give him your property.” This is an explicit command to not give the transgressor one's property. In addition, he guided him to the necessity of fighting this type of people. Then he asked, “What if he fought me?” The transgressor wanted to forcibly take it. The Prophet answered, ‘Fight him.’ It is an explicit command to fight him and prevent oppression. As a matter of fact, this fighting should take place after reminding him of Allah and seeking rulers' and Muslims' help. In Sunan An-Nasa'i, Abu Hurairah narrated, "A man came and said to the Messenger of Allah, 'O Messenger of Allah, what do you think if someone comes to steal my wealth?' The Prophet replied, 'Remind him of Allah so he leaves it.' The man asked, 'What if he persists?' The Prophet repeated, 'Remind him of Allah so he leaves it.' The man asked, 'What if he persists?' The Prophet repeated, 'Remind him of Allah so he leaves it.' The man asked, 'What if he persists?' The Prophet replied, 'Then fight. If you are killed, you will be in Paradise, and if you kill him, he will be in Hell.'" The Prophet confirmed that he would get the status of a martyr in Hereafter, for he was unjustly killed while defending his property. As for his case in this worldly life, he is washed and prayed over. This does not require that he would get the reward of a war martyr. On the other hand, the other man deserves to enter Hell for his oppression. It is Allah's decision to punish or forgive him. He would definitely enter Hell if he intentionally thought that his forbidden act by Islam was allowable. Hence, he becomes a disbeliever and will not be forgiven, out of warning against attacking people’s property. Finally, this hadith contains the following benefits: (1) It prohibits taking a Muslim’s wealth without his consent, and (2) It confirms that there is no retribution or blood money for killing those fighting Muslims..
Related hadiths6
Compare isnād across 6 related chains →