The Book of Oaths, Muharibin, Qasas (Retaliation), and Diyat (Blood Money)
Sahih
The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.
حَدَّثَنِي إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا بِشْرُ بْنُ عُمَرَ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ مَالِكَ بْنَ أَنَسٍ، يَقُولُ حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو لَيْلَى بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ سَهْلٍ، عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ أَبِي حَثْمَةَ، أَنَّهُ أَخْبَرَهُ عَنْ رِجَالٍ، مِنْ كُبَرَاءِ قَوْمِهِ أَنَّ عَبْدَ، اللَّهِ بْنَ سَهْلٍ وَمُحَيِّصَةَ خَرَجَا إِلَى خَيْبَرَ مِنْ جَهْدٍ أَصَابَهُمْ فَأَتَى مُحَيِّصَةُ فَأَخْبَرَ أَنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ سَهْلٍ قَدْ قُتِلَ وَطُرِحَ فِي عَيْنٍ أَوْ فَقِيرٍ فَأَتَى يَهُودَ فَقَالَ أَنْتُمْ وَاللَّهِ قَتَلْتُمُوهُ . قَالُوا وَاللَّهِ مَا قَتَلْنَاهُ . ثُمَّ أَقْبَلَ حَتَّى قَدِمَ عَلَى قَوْمِهِ فَذَكَرَ لَهُمْ ذَلِكَ ثُمَّ أَقْبَلَ هُوَ وَأَخُوهُ حُوَيِّصَةُ وَهُوَ أَكْبَرُ مِنْهُ وَعَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ سَهْلٍ فَذَهَبَ مُحَيِّصَةُ لِيَتَكَلَّمَ وَهُوَ الَّذِي كَانَ بِخَيْبَرَ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لِمُحَيِّصَةَ " كَبِّرْ كَبِّرْ " . يُرِيدُ السِّنَّ فَتَكَلَّمَ حُوَيِّصَةُ ثُمَّ تَكَلَّمَ مُحَيِّصَةُ . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِمَّا أَنْ يَدُوا صَاحِبَكُمْ وَإِمَّا أَنْ يُؤْذِنُوا بِحَرْبٍ " . فَكَتَبَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِلَيْهِمْ فِي ذَلِكَ فَكَتَبُوا إِنَّا وَاللَّهِ مَا قَتَلْنَاهُ . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لِحُوَيِّصَةَ وَمُحَيِّصَةَ وَعَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ " أَتَحْلِفُونَ وَتَسْتَحِقُّونَ دَمَ صَاحِبِكُمْ " . قَالُوا لاَ . قَالَ " فَتَحْلِفُ لَكُمْ يَهُودُ " . قَالُوا لَيْسُوا بِمُسْلِمِينَ . فَوَدَاهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِنْ عِنْدِهِ فَبَعَثَ إِلَيْهِمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِائَةَ نَاقَةٍ حَتَّى أُدْخِلَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ الدَّارَ . فَقَالَ سَهْلٌ فَلَقَدْ رَكَضَتْنِي مِنْهَا نَاقَةٌ حَمْرَاءُ .
By Allah, it is you who have killed him. They said: By Allah, we have not killed him. He then came to his people, and made mention of that to them. Then came he and his brother Huwayyisa, and he was older than he, and 'Abd al-Rahman b. Sahl. Then Muhayyisa went to speak, and it was he who had accompanied ('Abdullah) to Khaibar, whereupon Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said to Muhayyisa: Observe greatness of the great (he meant the seniority of age). Then Huwayyisa spoke and then Muhayyisa also spoke. Thereupon Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: They should either pay blood-wit for your companion, or be prepared for war. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) wrote about it to them (to the Jews). They wrote: Verily, by Allah, we have not killed him. Thereupon Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said to Huwayyisa and Muhayyisa and Abd al-Rahman: Are you prepared to take oath in order to entitle yourselves for the blood-wit of your companion? They said: No. He (the Holy Prophet) said: Then the Jews will take oath (of their innocence). They said: They are not Muslims. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ), however, himself paid the blood-wit to them and sent to them one hundred camels until they entered into their houses, Sahl said: One red she-camel among them kicked me.
Narrated by Abu Laila 'Abdullah b. 'Abd al-Rahman b. Sahl reported that the elderly persons of (the tribe) had informed Sahl b. Abu Hathma that 'Abdullah b. Sahl and Muhayyisa went out to Khaibar under some distress which had afflicted them. Muhayyisa came and informed that Abdutlah b. Sahl had been killed, and (his dead body) had been thrown in a well or in a ditch. He came to the Jews and said:
Context
This hadith recounts a serious incident involving the killing of a companion of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and the subsequent response to seek justice. It illustrates the importance of accountability and the need for fair procedures in addressing grievances, highlighting the Prophet's role in mediating between conflicting parties.
Modern Application
In modern contexts, this principle underscores the importance of justice and due process. Communities are encouraged to address disputes fairly and seek resolution through dialogue and legal means, promoting harmony and understanding.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Blood Money and Court Procedure because it deals with the issue of accountability and the procedures followed in seeking justice for a wrongful death.
So they set out, until when they met a boy, al-Khidh r killed him. [Moses] said, "Have you killed a pure soul for other than [having killed] a soul? You have certainly done a deplorable thing."
And never is it for a believer to kill a believer except by mistake. And whoever kills a believer by mistake - then the freeing of a believing slave and a compensation payment presented to the deceased's family [is required] unless they give [up their right as] charity. But if the deceased was from a people at war with you and he was a believer - then [only] the freeing of a believing slave; and if he was from a people with whom you have a treaty - then a compensation payment presented to his family and the freeing of a believing slave. And whoever does not find [one or cannot afford to buy one] - then [instead], a fast for two months consecutively, [seeking] acceptance of repentance from Allah. And Allah is ever Knowing and Wise.
They said, "Take a mutual oath by Allah that we will kill him by night, he and his family. Then we will say to his executor, 'We did not witness the destruction of his family, and indeed, we are truthful.' "
And do not kill the soul which Allah has forbidden, except by right. And whoever is killed unjustly - We have given his heir authority, but let him not exceed limits in [the matter of] taking life. Indeed, he has been supported [by the law].
Because of that, We decreed upon the Children of Israel that whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption [done] in the land - it is as if he had slain mankind entirely. And whoever saves one - it is as if he had saved mankind entirely. And our messengers had certainly come to them with clear proofs. Then indeed many of them, [even] after that, throughout the land, were transgressors.
This hadith is #4219 from Sahih Muslim, in the Book of The Book of Oaths, Muharibin, Qasas (Retaliation), and Diyat (Blood Money). It is graded Sahih and narrated by Abu Laila 'Abdullah b. 'Abd al-Rahman b. Sahl reported that the elderly persons of (the tribe) had informed Sahl b. Abu Hathma that 'Abdullah b. Sahl and Muhayyisa went out to Khaibar under some distress which had afflicted them. Muhayyisa came and informed that Abdutlah b. Sahl had been killed, and (his dead body) had been thrown in a well or in a ditch. He came to the Jews and said:.