The Punishment of Murder

It was one o’clock at night, and Kamran was awake. Sleep had abandoned him, as if it had parted from him forever. His life had become a torment; he was alive, yet not truly living. His body was merely breathing—his mind trapped in despair. He sat in the jail cell, staring at the walls, which seemed to radiate terror. Loneliness gnawed at him from all sides.

Helpless, he could not step outside the cell. No one visited him since his imprisonment, and gradually, the world outside became alien to him. Friends, relatives—everyone had disappeared. The vibrancy of life vanished. He became a portrait of hopelessness, conversing only with himself, asking questions, and wandering through the labyrinth of his thoughts, searching for answers that never came.

What crime had he committed? Why had this jail cell become his destiny? His name was Kamran, now branded as a murderer, imprisoned for the crime of murder. I had met him a few days before; I am the jailer here, and my days are filled with such stories.

One morning, the sky was clear, birds chirped melodious songs, and the world outside the prison walls flourished in life. Yet inside, despair prevailed. Faces were pale, eyes sleepless, bodies weary, lives broken. Amid this gloom, I would arrive, witnessing joy beyond the walls, reminding me that my family depended on this service for their livelihood.

Kamran’s story puzzled me for a long time. Many criminals here were guilty, but some were innocent, paying for crimes they did not commit. His arrival clarified one such mystery for me.

Kamran came from a wealthy family, a privileged child. Life had favored him with all comforts: servants, gardeners, cooks, and a sprawling estate. Yet tragedy struck early; at sixteen, he lost his mother to cancer. Pampered by his father, Kamran grew up indulged, yet life was never simple. He developed a passion for breeding fighting roosters. He built a farm at his estate, feeding his roosters premium diets—almonds, butter, walnuts soaked in ghee—training them for fierce battles

This obsession escalated. Rooster fights became regular, attracting wealthy enthusiasts from afar. Victorious roosters were auctioned for thousands. Yet life’s highs are fleeting; so came the fall. One year, during a winter night, his farm suffered an attack by predatory cats. Several roosters were killed. Furious, Kamran punished his workers and guarded the farm himself the next night. Once again, the cats attacked. In a rage, he shot at them, killing two instantly, while one escaped. Tragically, two roosters also died in the chaos. Kamran felt justice had been served—but fate had another lesson.

Exactly one year later, Kamran was leaving a hotel after dinner when police arrested him. A murder had occurred on the upper floor, and circumstantial evidence pointed to him. The hotel owner and some staff were also detained. Kamran alone remained in custody without bail. He spent two years in the cell, staring at the walls, questioning his fate, reflecting on the incident, and tormented by guilt.

Eventually, a white-bearded elderly man secured his bail. The case concluded quickly: the girl had consumed excessive alcohol before her death. Kamran’s imprisonment had been unjust, a test of conscience. The punishment, however, taught him a profound lesson about life, morality, and responsibility.

During his imprisonment, Kamran understood the voice of conscience—the internal guide Allah has placed in every human. He repented sincerely, sending prayers and blessings for the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Allah accepted his repentance and facilitated his release.

Kamran reentered the world, now living according to divine guidance. His past actions, the violent episode with the cats, had been a lesson of accountability: even minor cruelty carries consequences. He became mindful, practicing mercy, reflection, and gratitude.

This story reminds us that life is measured not only by our deeds but by our repentance and moral awakening. Even if one has erred unknowingly, the door to forgiveness remains open. Allah’s mercy can restore us—if only we recognize our mistakes and sincerely seek His pardon.