Jami` at-Tirmidhi #1480
The Book on Legal Punishments (Al-Hudud)
The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَبْدَةَ الضَّبِّيُّ الْبَصْرِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَهَّابِ الثَّقَفِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا أَيُّوبُ، عَنْ عِكْرِمَةَ، أَنَّ عَلِيًّا، حَرَّقَ قَوْمًا ارْتَدُّوا عَنِ الإِسْلاَمِ، فَبَلَغَ ذَلِكَ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ فَقَالَ لَوْ كُنْتُ أَنَا لَقَتَلْتُهُمْ، لِقَوْلِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " مَنْ بَدَّلَ دِينَهُ فَاقْتُلُوهُ " . وَلَمْ أَكُنْ لأُحَرِّقَهُمْ لِقَوْلِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لاَ تُعَذِّبُوا بِعَذَابِ اللَّهِ " . فَبَلَغَ ذَلِكَ عَلِيًّا فَقَالَ صَدَقَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ صَحِيحٌ حَسَنٌ . وَالْعَمَلُ عَلَى هَذَا عِنْدَ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ فِي الْمُرْتَدِّ . وَاخْتَلَفُوا فِي الْمَرْأَةِ إِذَا ارْتَدَّتْ عَنِ الإِسْلاَمِ فَقَالَتْ طَائِفَةٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ تُقْتَلُ وَهُوَ قَوْلُ الأَوْزَاعِيِّ وَأَحْمَدَ وَإِسْحَاقَ . وَقَالَتْ طَائِفَةٌ مِنْهُمْ تُحْبَسُ وَلاَ تُقْتَلُ وَهُوَ قَوْلُ سُفْيَانَ الثَّوْرِيِّ وَغَيْرِهِ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكُوفَةِ .
That 'Ali burnt some people who apostasized from Islam. This news reached Ibn 'Abbas, so he said: "If it were me I would have killed them according to the statement of Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'Whoever changes his religion then kill him.' And I would not have burned them because the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'Do not punish with the punishment of Allah.' So this reached 'Ali, and he said: "Ibn 'Abbas has told the truth."
Narrated by Narrated 'Ikrimah:
Context
In this narration, 'Ikrimah recounts an incident involving 'Ali who burned individuals who had apostatized from Islam. Ibn 'Abbas's response highlights a distinction between punishment and mercy, emphasizing the importance of adhering to the Prophet's teachings.
Modern Application
This hadith prompts reflection on the balance between justice and mercy in contemporary discussions about faith and belief. It encourages dialogue about how to approach those who may stray from their faith with compassion rather than harshness.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Hudud Punishments because it discusses the consequences of apostasy and the application of Islamic law.
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فَمَا كَانَ جَوَابَ قَوْمِهِۦٓ إِلَّآ أَن قَالُوا۟ ٱقْتُلُوهُ أَوْ حَرِّقُوهُ فَأَنجَىٰهُ ٱللَّهُ مِنَ ٱلنَّارِ ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَءَايَٰتٍۢ لِّقَوْمٍۢ يُؤْمِنُونَ
And the answer of Abraham's people was not but that they said, "Kill him or burn him," but Allah saved him from the fire. Indeed in that are signs for a people who believe.
سُورَةُ الأَنبِيَاءِ
Al-Anbiyaa (The Prophets)
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قَالُوا۟ حَرِّقُوهُ وَٱنصُرُوٓا۟ ءَالِهَتَكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ فَٰعِلِينَ
They said, "Burn him and support your gods - if you are to act."
سُورَةُ التَّوۡبَةِ
At-Tawba (The Repentance)
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يَحْلِفُونَ بِٱللَّهِ مَا قَالُوا۟ وَلَقَدْ قَالُوا۟ كَلِمَةَ ٱلْكُفْرِ وَكَفَرُوا۟ بَعْدَ إِسْلَٰمِهِمْ وَهَمُّوا۟ بِمَا لَمْ يَنَالُوا۟ ۚ وَمَا نَقَمُوٓا۟ إِلَّآ أَنْ أَغْنَىٰهُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُۥ مِن فَضْلِهِۦ ۚ فَإِن يَتُوبُوا۟ يَكُ خَيْرًۭا لَّهُمْ ۖ وَإِن يَتَوَلَّوْا۟ يُعَذِّبْهُمُ ٱللَّهُ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًۭا فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا وَٱلْءَاخِرَةِ ۚ وَمَا لَهُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ مِن وَلِىٍّۢ وَلَا نَصِيرٍۢ
They swear by Allah that they did not say [anything against the Prophet] while they had said the word of disbelief and disbelieved after their [pretense of] Islam and planned that which they were not to attain. And they were not resentful except [for the fact] that Allah and His Messenger had enriched them of His bounty. So if they repent, it is better for them; but if they turn away, Allah will punish them with a painful punishment in this world and the Hereafter. And there will not be for them on earth any protector or helper.
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Al-Maaida (The Table)
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إِنَّمَا جَزَٰٓؤُا۟ ٱلَّذِينَ يُحَارِبُونَ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ وَيَسْعَوْنَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَسَادًا أَن يُقَتَّلُوٓا۟ أَوْ يُصَلَّبُوٓا۟ أَوْ تُقَطَّعَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَأَرْجُلُهُم مِّنْ خِلَٰفٍ أَوْ يُنفَوْا۟ مِنَ ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ لَهُمْ خِزْىٌۭ فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَلَهُمْ فِى ٱلْءَاخِرَةِ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ
Indeed, the penalty for those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger and strive upon earth [to cause] corruption is none but that they be killed or crucified or that their hands and feet be cut off from opposite sides or that they be exiled from the land. That is for them a disgrace in this world; and for them in the Hereafter is a great punishment,
سُورَةُ النِّسَاءِ
An-Nisaa (The Women)
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وَدُّوا۟ لَوْ تَكْفُرُونَ كَمَا كَفَرُوا۟ فَتَكُونُونَ سَوَآءًۭ ۖ فَلَا تَتَّخِذُوا۟ مِنْهُمْ أَوْلِيَآءَ حَتَّىٰ يُهَاجِرُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ فَإِن تَوَلَّوْا۟ فَخُذُوهُمْ وَٱقْتُلُوهُمْ حَيْثُ وَجَدتُّمُوهُمْ ۖ وَلَا تَتَّخِذُوا۟ مِنْهُمْ وَلِيًّۭا وَلَا نَصِيرًا
They wish you would disbelieve as they disbelieved so you would be alike. So do not take from among them allies until they emigrate for the cause of Allah. But if they turn away, then seize them and kill them wherever you find them and take not from among them any ally or helper.
Common Words
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ٱلله5x
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About Jami` at-Tirmidhi
This hadith is #1480 from Jami` at-Tirmidhi, in the Book of The Book on Legal Punishments (Al-Hudud). It is graded Sahih and narrated by Narrated 'Ikrimah:.