First of all, we’d like to clarify that Islam allows defending oneself in case he is attacked with regard to himself, his properties or honor. However, one is not allowed to exaggerate in defending himself by killing the attacker unless he (the attacker) was keen to kill him and he (the attacked person) cannot defend himself except by killing the attacker.
Dr. Rif`at Fawzi, former professor of Shari`ah at Cairo Univ., states: “From the Shari`ah perspective, Islam permits defending oneself even if this led to killing the attacker. But this is in case the attacker was keen to kill him and he cannot defend himself except by killing the attacker. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is reported to have said, ‘The one who is killed while defending his properties is considered a martyr; the one who is killed while defending his honor is considered a martyr,…