God forbid that I should return anything which Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) has given me as spoil, and refused to return anything to them.
Narrated by 'Amir b. Sa'd reported that Sa'd rode to his castle in al-'Aqiq and found a slave cutting down the trees, or beating off their leaves, so he stripped him off his belongings. When Sa'd returned, there came to him the masters of the slave and negotiated with him asking him to return to their slave or to them what he had taken from their slave, whereupon he said:
Context
In this hadith, Sa'd encounters a slave damaging trees on his property and takes action by stripping the slave of his belongings. When the slave's masters request the return of their property, Sa'd refuses, citing that it was a gift from Allah's Messenger (ﷺ). This incident highlights the importance of property rights and the respect for what is deemed lawful in Islam.
Modern Application
Today, this principle emphasizes the importance of respecting property rights and the rightful ownership of resources. Individuals are encouraged to act justly and honorably in their dealings, ensuring that they do not take what does not belong to them.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Property Rights because it illustrates the significance of respecting ownership and the consequences of unjustly taking someone else's property.
It is not [attributable] to any prophet that he would act unfaithfully [in regard to war booty]. And whoever betrays, [taking unlawfully], will come with what he took on the Day of Resurrection. Then will every soul be [fully] compensated for what it earned, and they will not be wronged.
And what Allah restored to His Messenger from the people of the towns - it is for Allah and for the Messenger and for [his] near relatives and orphans and the [stranded] traveler - so that it will not be a perpetual distribution among the rich from among you. And whatever the Messenger has given you - take; and what he has forbidden you - refrain from. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is severe in penalty.
Say, "I hold not for myself [the power of] benefit or harm, except what Allah has willed. And if I knew the unseen, I could have acquired much wealth, and no harm would have touched me. I am not except a warner and a bringer of good tidings to a people who believe."
This hadith is #3198 from Sahih Muslim, in the Book of The Book of Pilgrimage. It is graded Sahih and narrated by 'Amir b. Sa'd reported that Sa'd rode to his castle in al-'Aqiq and found a slave cutting down the trees, or beating off their leaves, so he stripped him off his belongings. When Sa'd returned, there came to him the masters of the slave and negotiated with him asking him to return to their slave or to them what he had taken from their slave, whereupon he said:.
