Sunan an-Nasa'i #4729
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 سُلَيْمَانَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو نُعَيْمٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ عُبَيْدٍ الطَّائِيُّ، عَنْ بُشَيْرِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ، زَعَمَ أَنَّ رَجُلاً، مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ يُقَالُ لَهُ سَهْلُ بْنُ أَبِي حَثْمَةَ أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ نَفَرًا مِنْ قَوْمِهِ انْطَلَقُوا إِلَى خَيْبَرَ فَتَفَرَّقُوا فِيهَا فَوَجَدُوا أَحَدَهُمْ قَتِيلاً فَقَالُوا لِلَّذِينَ وَجَدُوهُ عِنْدَهُمْ قَتَلْتُمْ صَاحِبَنَا قَالُوا مَا قَتَلْنَاهُ وَلاَ عَلِمْنَا قَاتِلاً . فَانْطَلَقُوا إِلَى نَبِيِّ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالُوا يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ انْطَلَقْنَا إِلَى خَيْبَرَ فَوَجَدْنَا أَحَدَنَا قَتِيلاً . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " الْكُبْرَ الْكُبْرَ " . فَقَالَ لَهُمْ " تَأْتُونَ بِالْبَيِّنَةِ عَلَى مَنْ قَتَلَ " . قَالُوا مَا لَنَا بَيِّنَةٌ . قَالَ " فَيَحْلِفُونَ لَكُمْ " . قَالُوا لاَ نَرْضَى بِأَيْمَانِ الْيَهُودِ . وَكَرِهَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنْ يَبْطُلَ دَمُهُ فَوَدَاهُ مِائَةً مِنْ إِبِلِ الصَّدَقَةِ . خَالَفَهُمْ عَمْرُو بْنُ شُعَيْبٍ .
"A man from among the Ansar who was called Sahl bin Abi Hathmah told him that some of his people went to Khaibar, where they went their separate ways. Then they found one of their numbers slain. They said to those in whose land they found him: 'You killed our companion!' They said: 'We did not kill him and we do not know who killed him.' They went to the prophet of Allah and said: 'O Prophet of Allah, we went to Khaibar and we found one of our number slain.' The Messenger of Allah said: 'Let the elders speak first.' And he said to them: 'Bring proof of the one whom you suspect killed him.' They said: 'We do not have any proof.' He said: "Then let them swear an oath to you.' They said" 'We will not accept the oath of the Jews.' The Messenger of Allah did not want his blood to have been shed with no Justice done, so he paid a Diyah of one hundred camels from the Sadaqah." 'Amr bin Shu'aib differed with them.
Narrated by It was narrated from Sa'eed bin 'Ubaid At-Ta'l from Bushair bin Yasar who said:
Context
In this hadith, a group from the Ansar discovered one of their companions murdered in Khaibar. They accused the local people of the murder, but the accused denied any wrongdoing. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ emphasized the importance of evidence and instructed the accusers to seek an oath from the accused, but they refused to accept it. To ensure justice, the Prophet ﷺ compensated for the slain man's blood with a hundred camels from the charity funds.
Modern Application
This hadith highlights the significance of evidence and due process in resolving disputes. In today's context, it encourages individuals to seek fair solutions and rely on proper legal channels rather than jumping to conclusions or taking matters into their own hands.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Blood Money and Court Procedure because it addresses the compensation for a wrongful death and emphasizes the need for evidence in legal matters.
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 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 الشُّعَرَاءِ
Ash-Shu'araa (The Poets)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
كَذَّبَ أَصْحَٰبُ لْـَٔيْكَةِ ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ
The companions of the thicket denied the messengers
Common Words
136 total105 unique20 repeated
من5x
ٱلله5x
كان4x
رقبة3x
مؤمنة3x
أهله3x
شهدة2x
بينكم2x
إذا2x
ٱلموت2x
إن2x
بٱلله2x
أن2x
مؤمنا2x
إلا2x
خطـا2x
فتحرير2x
مسلمة2x
إلى2x
قوم2x
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About Sunan an-Nasa'i
This hadith is #4729 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 Sa'eed bin 'Ubaid At-Ta'l from Bushair bin Yasar who said:.