Sunan Abu Dawud #2688
Jihad (Kitab Al-Jihad)
The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.
حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنِ وَهْبٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي عَمْرُو بْنُ الْحَارِثِ، عَنْ بُكَيْرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الأَشَجِّ، عَنِ ابْنِ تِعْلَى، قَالَ غَزَوْنَا مَعَ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ خَالِدِ بْنِ الْوَلِيدِ فَأُتِيَ بِأَرْبَعَةِ أَعْلاَجٍ مِنَ الْعَدُوِّ فَأَمَرَ بِهِمْ فَقُتِلُوا صَبْرًا . قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ قَالَ لَنَا غَيْرُ سَعِيدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ وَهْبٍ فِي هَذَا الْحَدِيثِ قَالَ بِالنَّبْلِ صَبْرًا فَبَلَغَ ذَلِكَ أَبَا أَيُّوبَ الأَنْصَارِيَّ فَقَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَنْهَى عَنْ قَتْلِ الصَّبْرِ فَوَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لَوْ كَانَتْ دَجَاجَةٌ مَا صَبَرْتُهَا . فَبَلَغَ ذَلِكَ عَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنَ خَالِدِ بْنِ الْوَلِيدِ فَأَعْتَقَ أَرْبَعَ رِقَابٍ .
We fought along with AbdurRahman ibn Khalid ibn al-Walid. Four infidels from the enemy were brought to him. He commanded about them and they were killed in confinement.
Abu Dawud said: The narrators other than Sa'id reported from Ibn Wahb in this tradition: "(killed him) with arrows in confinement." When Abu Ayyub al-Ansari was informed about it, he said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prohibiting to kill in confinement. By Him in Whose hands my soul is, if there were a hen, I would not kill it in confinement. 'Abd al-Rahman b. Khalid b. al-Walid was informed about it (the Prophet's prohibition). He set four slaves free.
Narrated by Narrated Ibn Ti'li:
Context
This hadith recounts an incident during a military campaign where four enemy combatants were captured and killed in confinement. Abu Ayyub al-Ansari recalls the Prophet Muhammad's (ﷺ) prohibition against killing in confinement, emphasizing the need for humane treatment even in warfare. The hadith illustrates the ethical considerations that should guide conduct in military actions.
Modern Application
In today's context, this principle serves as a reminder of the importance of ethical standards in conflict situations. It encourages individuals and nations to uphold human rights and treat captives with dignity, regardless of the circumstances.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Military Might and Warfare because it addresses the ethical treatment of prisoners during conflicts.
Related Ayahs
سُورَةُ مُحَمَّدٍ
Muhammad (Muhammad)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
فَإِذَا لَقِيتُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ فَضَرْبَ ٱلرِّقَابِ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَآ أَثْخَنتُمُوهُمْ فَشُدُّوا۟ ٱلْوَثَاقَ فَإِمَّا مَنًّۢا بَعْدُ وَإِمَّا فِدَآءً حَتَّىٰ تَضَعَ ٱلْحَرْبُ أَوْزَارَهَا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ وَلَوْ يَشَآءُ ٱللَّهُ لَٱنتَصَرَ مِنْهُمْ وَلَٰكِن لِّيَبْلُوَا۟ بَعْضَكُم بِبَعْضٍۢ ۗ وَٱلَّذِينَ قُتِلُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ فَلَن يُضِلَّ أَعْمَٰلَهُمْ
So when you meet those who disbelieve [in battle], strike [their] necks until, when you have inflicted slaughter upon them, then secure their bonds, and either [confer] favor afterwards or ransom [them] until the war lays down its burdens. That [is the command]. And if Allah had willed, He could have taken vengeance upon them [Himself], but [He ordered armed struggle] to test some of you by means of others. And those who are killed in the cause of Allah - never will He waste their deeds.
سُورَةُ المَائـِدَةِ
Al-Maaida (The Table)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
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 غَافِرٍ
Ghafir (The Forgiver)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
فَلَمَّا جَآءَهُم بِٱلْحَقِّ مِنْ عِندِنَا قَالُوا۟ ٱقْتُلُوٓا۟ أَبْنَآءَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مَعَهُۥ وَٱسْتَحْيُوا۟ نِسَآءَهُمْ ۚ وَمَا كَيْدُ ٱلْكَٰفِرِينَ إِلَّا فِى ضَلَٰلٍۢ
And when he brought them the truth from Us, they said, "Kill the sons of those who have believed with him and keep their women alive." But the plan of the disbelievers is not except in error.
سُورَةُ الأَنفَالِ
Al-Anfaal (The Spoils of War)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
مَا كَانَ لِنَبِىٍّ أَن يَكُونَ لَهُۥٓ أَسْرَىٰ حَتَّىٰ يُثْخِنَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ تُرِيدُونَ عَرَضَ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَٱللَّهُ يُرِيدُ ٱلْءَاخِرَةَ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌۭ
It is not for a prophet to have captives [of war] until he inflicts a massacre [upon Allah 's enemies] in the land. Some Muslims desire the commodities of this world, but Allah desires [for you] the Hereafter. And Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise.
سُورَةُ التَّوۡبَةِ
At-Tawba (The Repentance)
1 ayah
فَإِذَا ٱنسَلَخَ ٱلْأَشْهُرُ ٱلْحُرُمُ فَٱقْتُلُوا۟ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ حَيْثُ وَجَدتُّمُوهُمْ وَخُذُوهُمْ وَٱحْصُرُوهُمْ وَٱقْعُدُوا۟ لَهُمْ كُلَّ مَرْصَدٍۢ ۚ فَإِن تَابُوا۟ وَأَقَامُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتَوُا۟ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ فَخَلُّوا۟ سَبِيلَهُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ
And when the sacred months have passed, then kill the polytheists wherever you find them and capture them and besiege them and sit in wait for them at every place of ambush. But if they should repent, establish prayer, and give zakah, let them [go] on their way. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.
Common Words
137 total112 unique14 repeated
فى6x
ٱلله4x
ٱلذين3x
حتى3x
ٱلأرض3x
أو3x
من3x
فإذا2x
ذلك2x
أن2x
لهم2x
ٱلدنيا2x
ٱلءاخرة2x
وٱلله2x
لقيتم1x
كفروا1x
فضرب1x
ٱلرقاب1x
إذا1x
أثخنتموهم1x
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About Sunan Abu Dawud
This hadith is #2688 from Sunan Abu Dawud, in the Book of Jihad (Kitab Al-Jihad). It is graded Sahih and narrated by Narrated Ibn Ti'li:.