Sunan an-Nasa'i #4725
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 إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ مَسْعُودٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا بِشْرُ بْنُ الْمُفَضَّلِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ بُشَيْرِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ، عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ أَبِي حَثْمَةَ، قَالَ انْطَلَقَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ سَهْلٍ وَمُحَيِّصَةُ بْنُ مَسْعُودِ بْنِ زَيْدٍ إِلَى خَيْبَرَ وَهِيَ يَوْمَئِذٍ صُلْحٌ فَتَفَرَّقَا فِي حَوَائِجِهِمَا فَأَتَى مُحَيِّصَةُ عَلَى عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ سَهْلٍ وَهُوَ يَتَشَحَّطُ فِي دَمِهِ قَتِيلاً فَدَفَنَهُ ثُمَّ قَدِمَ الْمَدِينَةَ فَانْطَلَقَ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ سَهْلٍ وَحُوَيِّصَةُ وَمُحَيِّصَةُ ابْنَا مَسْعُودٍ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَذَهَبَ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ يَتَكَلَّمُ فَقَالَ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " كَبِّرِ الْكُبْرَ " . وَهُوَ أَحْدَثُ الْقَوْمِ فَسَكَتَ فَتَكَلَّمَا فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " أَتَحْلِفُونَ بِخَمْسِينَ يَمِينًا مِنْكُمْ وَتَسْتَحِقُّونَ قَاتِلَكُمْ أَوْ صَاحِبَكُمْ " . فَقَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ كَيْفَ نَحْلِفُ وَلَمْ نَشْهَدْ وَلَمْ نَرَ فَقَالَ " أَتُبَرِّئُكُمْ يَهُودُ بِخَمْسِينَ " . فَقَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ كَيْفَ نَأْخُذُ أَيْمَانَ قَوْمٍ كُفَّارٍ فَعَقَلَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِنْ عِنْدِهِ .
"Abdullah bin Sahl and Muhayysah bin Mas'ud bin Zaid went to Khaibar, and at that time there was a peace treaty. They went their separatea ways to go about their business, then Muhayysah came upon 'Abdullah bin Sahl lying dead in a pool of blood. He buried him, then he camae to Al-Madinah. 'Abdur-Rahman bin Sahl and Huwhayysah, and Muhayysah, the tow sons of Nas'ud, came to the Messenger of Allah, and "Abdur-Rahman started to speak, but the Messenger of Allah said: "Let the elders speak first," for he was the youngest of them. So he fell silent and they (the other two) spoke. The Messenger of Allah said: "Will you sear fifty oaths, then you will receive compensation or be entitled to retaliate?" They said: "O Messenger of Allah, how can we a wear and oath when we did not witness and did not see (what happened)" He said: "Then can the Jews swear fifty oaths declaring their innocence?" They said: "O Messenger of Allah, how can we accept the oath of a disbelieving people?" So the Messenger of Allah paid the blood money himself.
Narrated by It was narratd that Sahl bin Abi Hatmah said:
Context
This hadith recounts an incident involving the death of Abdullah bin Sahl and the subsequent discussion with the Prophet ﷺ regarding justice and compensation. The situation illustrates the complexities of seeking justice in a context where witnesses are lacking, and the Prophet's ﷺ response emphasizes the importance of fairness and accountability.
Modern Application
In contemporary life, this principle highlights the need for justice systems to ensure fair treatment, especially in cases where evidence is scarce. It encourages individuals to seek resolution through lawful means rather than taking matters into their own hands.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Justice and Blood Money because it addresses the issue of compensation for wrongful death and the principles of justice in such cases.
Related Ayahs
سُورَةُ النِّسَاءِ
An-Nisaa (The Women)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
وَمَا كَانَ لِمُؤْمِنٍ أَن يَقْتُلَ مُؤْمِنًا إِلَّا خَطَـًۭٔا ۚ وَمَن قَتَلَ مُؤْمِنًا خَطَـًۭٔا فَتَحْرِيرُ رَقَبَةٍۢ مُّؤْمِنَةٍۢ وَدِيَةٌۭ مُّسَلَّمَةٌ إِلَىٰٓ أَهْلِهِۦٓ إِلَّآ أَن يَصَّدَّقُوا۟ ۚ فَإِن كَانَ مِن قَوْمٍ عَدُوٍّۢ لَّكُمْ وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌۭ فَتَحْرِيرُ رَقَبَةٍۢ مُّؤْمِنَةٍۢ ۖ وَإِن كَانَ مِن قَوْمٍۭ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَهُم مِّيثَٰقٌۭ فَدِيَةٌۭ مُّسَلَّمَةٌ إِلَىٰٓ أَهْلِهِۦ وَتَحْرِيرُ رَقَبَةٍۢ مُّؤْمِنَةٍۢ ۖ فَمَن لَّمْ يَجِدْ فَصِيَامُ شَهْرَيْنِ مُتَتَابِعَيْنِ تَوْبَةًۭ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًۭا
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.
سُورَةُ المَائـِدَةِ
Al-Maaida (The Table)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
2 ayahs
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ شَهَٰدَةُ بَيْنِكُمْ إِذَا حَضَرَ أَحَدَكُمُ ٱلْمَوْتُ حِينَ ٱلْوَصِيَّةِ ٱثْنَانِ ذَوَا عَدْلٍۢ مِّنكُمْ أَوْ ءَاخَرَانِ مِنْ غَيْرِكُمْ إِنْ أَنتُمْ ضَرَبْتُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَأَصَٰبَتْكُم مُّصِيبَةُ ٱلْمَوْتِ ۚ تَحْبِسُونَهُمَا مِنۢ بَعْدِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ فَيُقْسِمَانِ بِٱللَّهِ إِنِ ٱرْتَبْتُمْ لَا نَشْتَرِى بِهِۦ ثَمَنًۭا وَلَوْ كَانَ ذَا قُرْبَىٰ ۙ وَلَا نَكْتُمُ شَهَٰدَةَ ٱللَّهِ إِنَّآ إِذًۭا لَّمِنَ ٱلْءَاثِمِينَ
O you who have believed, testimony [should be taken] among you when death approaches one of you at the time of bequest - [that of] two just men from among you or two others from outside if you are traveling through the land and the disaster of death should strike you. Detain them after the prayer and let them both swear by Allah if you doubt [their testimony, saying], "We will not exchange our oath for a price, even if he should be a near relative, and we will not withhold the testimony of Allah. Indeed, we would then be of the sinful."
وَكَتَبْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ فِيهَآ أَنَّ ٱلنَّفْسَ بِٱلنَّفْسِ وَٱلْعَيْنَ بِٱلْعَيْنِ وَٱلْأَنفَ بِٱلْأَنفِ وَٱلْأُذُنَ بِٱلْأُذُنِ وَٱلسِّنَّ بِٱلسِّنِّ وَٱلْجُرُوحَ قِصَاصٌۭ ۚ فَمَن تَصَدَّقَ بِهِۦ فَهُوَ كَفَّارَةٌۭ لَّهُۥ ۚ وَمَن لَّمْ يَحْكُم بِمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ فَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلظَّٰلِمُونَ
And We ordained for them therein a life for a life, an eye for an eye, a nose for a nose, an ear for an ear, a tooth for a tooth, and for wounds is legal retribution. But whoever gives [up his right as] charity, it is an expiation for him. And whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed - then it is those who are the wrongdoers.
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.' "
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.
Common Words
194 total151 unique29 repeated
ٱلله6x
من5x
كان4x
أن3x
رقبة3x
مؤمنة3x
أهله3x
إذا3x
مؤمنا2x
إلا2x
خطـا2x
ومن2x
فتحرير2x
مسلمة2x
إلى2x
قوم2x
بينكم2x
فمن2x
لم2x
ٱلذين2x
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About Sunan an-Nasa'i
This hadith is #4725 from Sunan an-Nasa'i, in the Book of The Book of Oaths (qasamah), Retaliation and Blood Money. It is graded Hasan and narrated by It was narratd that Sahl bin Abi Hatmah said:.