Sunan an-Nasa'i #4727
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 مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ بُشَيْرِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ، عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ أَبِي حَثْمَةَ، قَالَ وُجِدَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ سَهْلٍ قَتِيلاً فَجَاءَ أَخُوهُ وَعَمَّاهُ حُوَيِّصَةُ وَمُحَيِّصَةُ وَهُمَا عَمَّا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ سَهْلٍ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَذَهَبَ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ يَتَكَلَّمُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " الْكُبْرَ الْكُبْرَ " . قَالاَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّا وَجَدْنَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ سَهْلٍ قَتِيلاً فِي قَلِيبٍ مِنْ بَعْضِ قُلُبِ خَيْبَرَ . فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " مَنْ تَتَّهِمُونَ " . قَالُوا نَتَّهِمُ الْيَهُودَ . قَالَ " أَفَتُقْسِمُونَ خَمْسِينَ يَمِينًا أَنَّ الْيَهُودَ قَتَلَتْهُ " . قَالُوا وَكَيْفَ نُقْسِمُ عَلَى مَا لَمْ نَرَ قَالَ " فَتُبَرِّئُكُمُ الْيَهُودُ بِخَمْسِينَ أَنَّهُمْ لَمْ يَقْتُلُوهُ " . قَالُوا وَكَيْفَ نَرْضَى بِأَيْمَانِهِمْ وَهُمْ مُشْرِكُونَ فَوَدَاهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِنْ عِنْدِهِ . أَرْسَلَهُ مَالِكُ بْنُ أَنَسٍ .
"Abdullah bin Sahl was found slain, and his brother, and two paternal uncles, Huwayysah and Huwayisaah, who were the paternal uncles of 'Abdullah bin Sahl, came to the Messenger of Allah. 'Abdur-Rahman started to speak, but the Messenger of Allah said: "Let the elders speak first." They said: "O Messenger of Allah, we found 'Abdullah bin Sahl slain in one of the dry wells of Khaibar." The prophet said: "Whom do you suspect? They said: "We suspect the Jews." He said: "Will you swear fifty oaths saying that the Jews killed him?" They said: "How can we swear an oath about something that we did not see?" He said: "Then can the Jews swear fifty oaths declaring that they did not kill him?" They said:"How can we accept their oaths, when they are Mushrikun?" So the Messenger of Allah paid the blood money himself. (Sahih)
Malik narrated this in Mursal from.
Narrated by It was narrated that Sahl bin Abi Hathmah said:
Context
In this hadith, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ addressed the case of Abdullah bin Sahl, who was found murdered. When his family suspected the Jews, the Prophet ﷺ asked them to swear oaths to prove their claim. This incident illustrates the importance of evidence and the requirement for just proceedings in cases of murder.
Modern Application
This principle is relevant today as it highlights the need for evidence and fairness in legal matters. It encourages individuals to seek justice through proper channels rather than making unfounded accusations.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Qisas (Retribution) and Punishments (Hudud) because it emphasizes the need for evidence in cases of murder and the importance of just legal proceedings.
Related Ayahs
سُورَةُ المَائـِدَةِ
Al-Maaida (The Table)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
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."
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 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 يُوسُفَ
Yusuf (Joseph)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
2 ayahs
قَالُوا۟ جَزَٰٓؤُهُۥ مَن وُجِدَ فِى رَحْلِهِۦ فَهُوَ جَزَٰٓؤُهُۥ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِى ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ
[The brothers] said, "Its recompense is that he in whose bag it is found - he [himself] will be its recompense. Thus do we recompense the wrongdoers."
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]."
Common Words
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من6x
كان4x
إن3x
فى3x
ٱلله3x
رقبة3x
مؤمنة3x
أهله3x
شهدة2x
بينكم2x
إذا2x
ٱلموت2x
بٱلله2x
لا2x
أن2x
مؤمنا2x
إلا2x
خطـا2x
فتحرير2x
مسلمة2x
Related Hadiths
About Sunan an-Nasa'i
This hadith is #4727 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 that Sahl bin Abi Hathmah said:.