Sunan Abu Dawud #4453
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 عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ يَحْيَى أَبُو الأَصْبَغِ الْحَرَّانِيُّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدٌ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ سَلَمَةَ - عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْحَاقَ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَجُلاً، مِنْ مُزَيْنَةَ يُحَدِّثُ سَعِيدَ بْنَ الْمُسَيَّبِ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ زَنَى رَجُلٌ وَامْرَأَةٌ مِنَ الْيَهُودِ وَقَدْ أُحْصِنَا حِينَ قَدِمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم الْمَدِينَةَ وَقَدْ كَانَ الرَّجْمُ مَكْتُوبًا عَلَيْهِمْ فِي التَّوْرَاةِ فَتَرَكُوهُ وَأَخَذُوا بِالتَّجْبِيَةِ يُضْرَبُ مِائَةً بِحَبْلٍ مَطْلِيٍّ بِقَارٍ وَيُحْمَلُ عَلَى حِمَارٍ وَجْهُهُ مِمَّا يَلِي دُبُرَ الْحِمَارِ فَاجْتَمَعَ أَحْبَارٌ مِنْ أَحْبَارِهِمْ فَبَعَثُوا قَوْمًا آخَرِينَ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالُوا سَلُوهُ عَنْ حَدِّ الزَّانِي . وَسَاقَ الْحَدِيثَ قَالَ فِيهِ قَالَ وَلَمْ يَكُونُوا مِنْ أَهْلِ دِينِهِ فَيَحْكُمَ بَيْنَهُمْ فَخُيِّرَ فِي ذَلِكَ قَالَ { فَإِنْ جَاءُوكَ فَاحْكُمْ بَيْنَهُمْ أَوْ أَعْرِضْ عَنْهُمْ } .
A man and a woman of the Jews who were married committed fornication at the time when the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came to Medina. Stoning was a prescribed punishment for them in accordance with the Torah, but they abandoned it and followed tajbiyyah, meaning, the man was beaten a hundred times with a rope painted with tar and was seated on a donkey with his face towards the tail of the donkey. Their rabbis then assembled and sent some people to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). They said to them: Ask him about the prescribed punishment for fornication. The transmitter then mentioned the rest of the tradition. They version adds: They were not the followers of his religion, and he (the prophet) was to pronounce judgment between them. So he was given a choice in this verse:”If they do come to thee, either judge between them, or decline to interfere.
Narrated by Abu Hurairah said:
Context
This hadith recounts the case of a married couple from the Jewish community who committed adultery. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) was approached for guidance on their punishment, reflecting the complexities of legal rulings in a multi-religious society.
Modern Application
In modern contexts, this hadith highlights the importance of justice and fairness in legal matters. It serves as a reminder to approach legal issues with a sense of equity and understanding of different cultural backgrounds.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Divine Justice and Punishments (Hudud) because it illustrates the application of justice in cases of serious offenses.
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
2 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.
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 المَائـِدَةِ
Al-Maaida (The Table)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
2 ayahs
وَكَيْفَ يُحَكِّمُونَكَ وَعِندَهُمُ ٱلتَّوْرَىٰةُ فِيهَا حُكْمُ ٱللَّهِ ثُمَّ يَتَوَلَّوْنَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ ذَٰلِكَ ۚ وَمَآ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ بِٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
But how is it that they come to you for judgement while they have the Torah, in which is the judgement of Allah? Then they turn away, [even] after that; but those are not [in fact] believers.
وَأَنِ ٱحْكُم بَيْنَهُم بِمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ وَلَا تَتَّبِعْ أَهْوَآءَهُمْ وَٱحْذَرْهُمْ أَن يَفْتِنُوكَ عَنۢ بَعْضِ مَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ إِلَيْكَ ۖ فَإِن تَوَلَّوْا۟ فَٱعْلَمْ أَنَّمَا يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ أَن يُصِيبَهُم بِبَعْضِ ذُنُوبِهِمْ ۗ وَإِنَّ كَثِيرًۭا مِّنَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَفَٰسِقُونَ
And judge, [O Muhammad], between them by what Allah has revealed and do not follow their inclinations and beware of them, lest they tempt you away from some of what Allah has revealed to you. And if they turn away - then know that Allah only intends to afflict them with some of their [own] sins. And indeed, many among the people are defiantly disobedient.
Common Words
110 total93 unique9 repeated
ٱلله7x
من4x
فإن3x
ولا2x
فى2x
إن2x
منكم2x
أنزل2x
أن2x
ٱلزانية1x
وٱلزانى1x
فٱجلدوا1x
كل1x
وحد1x
منهما1x
مائة1x
جلدة1x
تأخذكم1x
بهما1x
رأفة1x
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About Sunan Abu Dawud
This hadith is #4453 from Sunan Abu Dawud, in the Book of Prescribed Punishments (Kitab Al-Hudud). It is graded Hasan and narrated by Abu Hurairah said:.