Sunan Abu Dawud #4421
Prescribed Punishments (Kitab 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 مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ الأَنْبَارِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي يَزِيدُ بْنُ نُعَيْمِ بْنِ هَزَّالٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ كَانَ مَاعِزُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ يَتِيمًا فِي حِجْرِ أَبِي . فَأَصَابَ جَارِيَةً مِنَ الْحَىِّ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبِي ائْتِ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأَخْبِرْهُ بِمَا صَنَعْتَ لَعَلَّهُ يَسْتَغْفِرُ لَكَ وَإِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ بِذَلِكَ رَجَاءَ أَنْ يَكُونَ لَهُ مَخْرَجًا فَأَتَاهُ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي زَنَيْتُ فَأَقِمْ عَلَىَّ كِتَابَ اللَّهِ . فَأَعْرَضَ عَنْهُ فَعَادَ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي زَنَيْتُ فَأَقِمْ عَلَىَّ كِتَابَ اللَّهِ . حَتَّى قَالَهَا أَرْبَعَ مِرَارٍ . قَالَ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِنَّكَ قَدْ قُلْتَهَا أَرْبَعَ مَرَّاتٍ فَبِمَنْ " . قَالَ بِفُلاَنَةَ . قَالَ " هَلْ ضَاجَعْتَهَا " . قَالَ نَعَمْ . قَالَ " هَلْ بَاشَرْتَهَا " . قَالَ نَعَمْ . قَالَ " هَلْ جَامَعْتَهَا " . قَالَ نَعَمْ . قَالَ فَأَمَرَ بِهِ أَنْ يُرْجَمَ فَأُخْرِجَ بِهِ إِلَى الْحَرَّةِ . فَلَمَّا رُجِمَ فَوَجَدَ مَسَّ الْحِجَارَةِ جَزِعَ فَخَرَجَ يَشْتَدُّ فَلَقِيَهُ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ أُنَيْسٍ وَقَدْ عَجَزَ أَصْحَابُهُ فَنَزَعَ لَهُ بِوَظِيفِ بَعِيرٍ فَرَمَاهُ بِهِ فَقَتَلَهُ ثُمَّ أَتَى النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَذَكَرَ ذَلِكَ لَهُ فَقَالَ " هَلاَّ تَرَكْتُمُوهُ لَعَلَّهُ أَنْ يَتُوبَ فَيَتُوبَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ " .
Yazid ibn Nu'aym ibn Huzzal, on his father's authority said: Ma'iz ibn Malik was an orphan under the protection of my father. He had illegal sexual intercourse with a slave-girl belonging to a clan. My father said to him: Go to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and inform him of what you have done, for he may perhaps ask Allah for your forgiveness. His purpose in that was simply a hope that it might be a way of escape for him.
So he went to him and said: Messenger of Allah! I have committed fornication, so inflict on me the punishment ordained by Allah. He (the Prophet) turned away from him, so he came back and said: Messenger of Allah! I have committed fornication, so inflict on me the punishment ordained by Allah. He (again) turned away from him, so he came back and said: Messenger of Allah! I have committed fornication, so inflict on me the punishment ordained by Allah.
When he uttered it four times, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: You have said it four times. With whom did you commit it?
He replied: With so and so. He asked: Did you lie down with her? He replied: Yes. He asked: Had your skin been in contact with hers? He replied. Yes. He asked: Did you have intercourse with her? He said: Yes. So he (the Prophet) gave orders that he should be stoned to death. He was then taken out to the Harrah, and while he was being stoned he felt the effect of the stones and could not bear it and fled. But Abdullah ibn Unays encountered him when those who had been stoning him could not catch up with him. He threw the bone of a camel's foreleg at him, which hit him and killed him. They then went to the Prophet (ﷺ) and reported it to him.
He said: Why did you not leave him alone. Perhaps he might have repented and been forgiven by Allah.
Narrated by Narrated Nu'aym ibn Huzzal:
Context
In this hadith narrated by Nu'aym ibn Huzzal, the story of Ma'iz ibn Malik is recounted, where he confesses to the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) about committing fornication. Despite his repeated confessions, the Prophet expresses concern for Ma'iz's potential to repent and receive forgiveness. This narrative illustrates the balance between justice and compassion in Islamic teachings.
Modern Application
This story serves as a reminder today that while accountability is essential, compassion and the opportunity for redemption should also be extended to those who have erred. It encourages a supportive approach to individuals seeking forgiveness.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Divine Justice and Punishments (Hudud) because it reflects the implementation of legal consequences while also highlighting the importance of mercy and the possibility of repentance.
Related Ayahs
سُورَةُ النُّورِ
An-Noor (The Light)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
ٱلزَّانِيَةُ وَٱلزَّانِى فَٱجْلِدُوا۟ كُلَّ وَٰحِدٍۢ مِّنْهُمَا مِا۟ئَةَ جَلْدَةٍۢ ۖ وَلَا تَأْخُذْكُم بِهِمَا رَأْفَةٌۭ فِى دِينِ ٱللَّهِ إِن كُنتُمْ تُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْءَاخِرِ ۖ وَلْيَشْهَدْ عَذَابَهُمَا طَآئِفَةٌۭ مِّنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
The [unmarried] woman or [unmarried] man found guilty of sexual intercourse - lash each one of them with a hundred lashes, and do not be taken by pity for them in the religion of Allah, if you should believe in Allah and the Last Day. And let a group of the believers witness their punishment.
سُورَةُ النِّسَاءِ
An-Nisaa (The Women)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
3 ayahs
وَٱلَّذَانِ يَأْتِيَٰنِهَا مِنكُمْ فَـَٔاذُوهُمَا ۖ فَإِن تَابَا وَأَصْلَحَا فَأَعْرِضُوا۟ عَنْهُمَآ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ تَوَّابًۭا رَّحِيمًا
And the two who commit it among you, dishonor them both. But if they repent and correct themselves, leave them alone. Indeed, Allah is ever Accepting of repentance and Merciful.
وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن رَّسُولٍ إِلَّا لِيُطَاعَ بِإِذْنِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ إِذ ظَّلَمُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَهُمْ جَآءُوكَ فَٱسْتَغْفَرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱسْتَغْفَرَ لَهُمُ ٱلرَّسُولُ لَوَجَدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ تَوَّابًۭا رَّحِيمًۭا
And We did not send any messenger except to be obeyed by permission of Allah. And if, when they wronged themselves, they had come to you, [O Muhammad], and asked forgiveness of Allah and the Messenger had asked forgiveness for them, they would have found Allah Accepting of repentance and Merciful.
وَٱلَّٰتِى يَأْتِينَ ٱلْفَٰحِشَةَ مِن نِّسَآئِكُمْ فَٱسْتَشْهِدُوا۟ عَلَيْهِنَّ أَرْبَعَةًۭ مِّنكُمْ ۖ فَإِن شَهِدُوا۟ فَأَمْسِكُوهُنَّ فِى ٱلْبُيُوتِ حَتَّىٰ يَتَوَفَّىٰهُنَّ ٱلْمَوْتُ أَوْ يَجْعَلَ ٱللَّهُ لَهُنَّ سَبِيلًۭا
Those who commit unlawful sexual intercourse of your women - bring against them four [witnesses] from among you. And if they testify, confine the guilty women to houses until death takes them or Allah ordains for them [another] way.
سُورَةُ التَّوۡبَةِ
At-Tawba (The Repentance)
1 ayah
عَفَا ٱللَّهُ عَنكَ لِمَ أَذِنتَ لَهُمْ حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكَ ٱلَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا۟ وَتَعْلَمَ ٱلْكَٰذِبِينَ
May Allah pardon you, [O Muhammad]; why did you give them permission [to remain behind]? [You should not have] until it was evident to you who were truthful and you knew [who were] the liars.
Common Words
98 total82 unique10 repeated
ٱلله7x
من3x
فى2x
إن2x
منكم2x
فإن2x
توابا2x
رحيما2x
لهم2x
حتى2x
ٱلزانية1x
وٱلزانى1x
فٱجلدوا1x
كل1x
وحد1x
منهما1x
مائة1x
جلدة1x
ولا1x
تأخذكم1x
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About Sunan Abu Dawud
This hadith is #4421 from Sunan Abu Dawud, in the Book of Prescribed Punishments (Kitab Al-Hudud). It is graded Sahih and narrated by Narrated Nu'aym ibn Huzzal:.