Sunan an-Nasa'i #4720
The Book of Oaths (qasamah), Retaliation and Blood Money
The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.
أَخْبَرَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَمْرِو بْنِ السَّرْحِ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي مَالِكُ بْنُ أَنَسٍ، عَنْ أَبِي لَيْلَى بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الأَنْصَارِيِّ، أَنَّ سَهْلَ بْنَ أَبِي حَثْمَةَ، أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ سَهْلٍ وَمُحَيِّصَةَ خَرَجَا إِلَى خَيْبَرَ مِنْ جَهْدٍ أَصَابَهُمَا فَأُتِيَ مُحَيِّصَةُ فَأُخْبِرَ أَنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ سَهْلٍ قَدْ قُتِلَ وَطُرِحَ فِي فَقِيرٍ أَوْ عَيْنٍ فَأَتَى يَهُودَ فَقَالَ أَنْتُمْ وَاللَّهِ قَتَلْتُمُوهُ . فَقَالُوا وَاللَّهِ مَا قَتَلْنَاهُ . ثُمَّ أَقْبَلَ حَتَّى قَدِمَ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَذَكَرَ ذَلِكَ لَهُ ثُمَّ أَقْبَلَ هُوَ وَحُوَيِّصَةُ وَهُوَ أَخُوهُ أَكْبَرُ مِنْهُ وَعَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ سَهْلٍ فَذَهَبَ مُحَيِّصَةُ لِيَتَكَلَّمَ وَهُوَ الَّذِي كَانَ بِخَيْبَرَ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " كَبِّرْ كَبِّرْ " . وَتَكَلَّمَ حُوَيِّصَةُ ثُمَّ تَكَلَّمَ مُحَيِّصَةُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِمَّا أَنْ يَدُوا صَاحِبَكُمْ وَإِمَّا أَنْ يُؤْذَنُوا بِحَرْبٍ " . فَكَتَبَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي ذَلِكَ فَكَتَبُوا إِنَّا وَاللَّهِ مَا قَتَلْنَاهُ . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لِحُوَيِّصَةَ وَمُحَيِّصَةَ وَعَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ " تَحْلِفُونَ وَتَسْتَحِقُّونَ دَمَ صَاحِبِكُمْ " . قَالُوا لاَ . قَالَ " فَتَحْلِفُ لَكُمْ يَهُودُ " . قَالُوا لَيْسُوا مُسْلِمِينَ . فَوَدَاهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِنْ عِنْدِهِ فَبَعَثَ إِلَيْهِمْ بِمِائَةِ نَاقَةٍ حَتَّى أُدْخِلَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ الدَّارَ . قَالَ سَهْلٌ لَقَدْ رَكَضَتْنِي مِنْهَا نَاقَةٌ حَمْرَاءُ .
'Abdullah bin Sahl and Muhayysah set out for Khaibar because of some problem that had arisen. Someone came to Muhayysah and he told him that 'Abdullah bin Sahl had been Killed and thrown into a pit, or a well. He came to the Jews and said: "By Allah, you killed him. " They said: "By Allah, we did not kill him."Then he went back to the Messenger of Allah and told him about that. Then he and Huwayysah - his brother who was older than him - and 'Abdur-Rahman bin Sahl, came (to the Prophet). Muhayysah, who was the one who had been at Khaibar, began to speak, but the messenger of Allah said: "Let the elder speak first," So Huwayysah elder speaks first." So Huwayysah spoke, then Muhayysah spoke. The Messenger of Allah said: "Either (the Jews) will pay the Diyah for your comanion, or war will be declared on them." The Messenger of Allah sent a letter to that effect (to the Jews) and they wrote back saying: "By Allah, we did not kill him." The Messenger of Allah said to Huwayysah. Muhayysah and 'Abdur-Rahman: "Will you swear an oath establishing your claim to the blood money of your companion?" They said: "No." He said: "Should the jews swear an oath for you? They said: "They are not Muslims." So the Messenger of Allah paid (the Diyah) himself, and he sent one hundred she-camels to their abodes. Sahl said: "A red she-camel from among them kicked me."
Narrated by It was narrated from Sahl bin Abi Hathmah that:
Context
This hadith recounts an incident involving the killing of Abdullah bin Sahl and the subsequent inquiry into his death. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ navigates the complexities of justice and retribution, emphasizing the importance of evidence and oaths in establishing truth. The resolution, where the Prophet himself compensates for the loss, highlights the principles of justice and community responsibility.
Modern Application
In contemporary settings, this principle underscores the importance of due process and fair compensation in resolving disputes. It encourages individuals to seek justice through proper channels rather than resorting to violence, promoting a sense of community and accountability.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Qisas (Retribution) and Punishments (Hudud) because it deals with the themes of justice and compensation for wrongful death, illustrating the importance of accountability in society.
Related Ayahs
سُورَةُ يُوسُفَ
Yusuf (Joseph)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
2 ayahs
قَالَ قَآئِلٌۭ مِّنْهُمْ لَا تَقْتُلُوا۟ يُوسُفَ وَأَلْقُوهُ فِى غَيَٰبَتِ ٱلْجُبِّ يَلْتَقِطْهُ بَعْضُ ٱلسَّيَّارَةِ إِن كُنتُمْ فَٰعِلِينَ
Said a speaker among them, "Do not kill Joseph but throw him into the bottom of the well; some travelers will pick him up - if you would do [something]."
فَلَمَّا جَهَّزَهُم بِجَهَازِهِمْ جَعَلَ ٱلسِّقَايَةَ فِى رَحْلِ أَخِيهِ ثُمَّ أَذَّنَ مُؤَذِّنٌ أَيَّتُهَا ٱلْعِيرُ إِنَّكُمْ لَسَٰرِقُونَ
So when he had furnished them with their supplies, he put the [gold measuring] bowl into the bag of his brother. Then an announcer called out, "O caravan, indeed you are thieves."
سُورَةُ الكَهۡفِ
Al-Kahf (The Cave)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
فَٱنطَلَقَا حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا لَقِيَا غُلَٰمًۭا فَقَتَلَهُۥ قَالَ أَقَتَلْتَ نَفْسًۭا زَكِيَّةًۢ بِغَيْرِ نَفْسٍۢ لَّقَدْ جِئْتَ شَيْـًۭٔا نُّكْرًۭا
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."
سُورَةُ الشَّمۡسِ
Ash-Shams (The Sun)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
فَقَالَ لَهُمْ رَسُولُ ٱللَّهِ نَاقَةَ ٱللَّهِ وَسُقْيَٰهَا
And the messenger of Allah [Salih] said to them, "[Do not harm] the she-camel of Allah or [prevent her from] her drink."
سُورَةُ النَّمۡلِ
An-Naml (The Ant)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
قَالُوا۟ تَقَاسَمُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ لَنُبَيِّتَنَّهُۥ وَأَهْلَهُۥ ثُمَّ لَنَقُولَنَّ لِوَلِيِّهِۦ مَا شَهِدْنَا مَهْلِكَ أَهْلِهِۦ وَإِنَّا لَصَٰدِقُونَ
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.' "
Common Words
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قال2x
فى2x
ٱلله2x
ثم2x
قائل1x
منهم1x
لا1x
تقتلوا1x
يوسف1x
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غيبت1x
ٱلجب1x
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بعض1x
ٱلسيارة1x
إن1x
كنتم1x
فعلين1x
فٱنطلقا1x
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About Sunan an-Nasa'i
This hadith is #4720 from Sunan an-Nasa'i, in the Book of The Book of Oaths (qasamah), Retaliation and Blood Money. It is graded Sahih and narrated by It was narrated from Sahl bin Abi Hathmah that:.