The Book of Oaths (qasamah), Retaliation and Blood Money
Sahih
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 مَعْمَرٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا رَوْحُ بْنُ عُبَادَةَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الأَخْنَسِ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ شُعَيْبٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ جَدِّهِ، أَنَّ ابْنَ مُحَيِّصَةَ الأَصْغَرَ، أَصْبَحَ قَتِيلاً عَلَى أَبْوَابِ خَيْبَرَ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " أَقِمْ شَاهِدَيْنِ عَلَى مَنْ قَتَلَهُ أَدْفَعْهُ إِلَيْكُمْ بِرُمَّتِهِ " . قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَمِنْ أَيْنَ أُصِيبُ شَاهِدَيْنِ وَإِنَّمَا أَصْبَحَ قَتِيلاً عَلَى أَبْوَابِهِمْ قَالَ " فَتَحْلِفُ خَمْسِينَ قَسَامَةً " . قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَكَيْفَ أَحْلِفُ عَلَى مَا لاَ أَعْلَمُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " فَنَسْتَحْلِفُ مِنْهُمْ خَمْسِينَ قَسَامَةً " . فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ كَيْفَ نَسْتَحْلِفُهُمْ وَهُمُ الْيَهُودُ فَقَسَمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم دِيَتَهُ عَلَيْهِمْ وَأَعَانَهُمْ بِنِصْفِهَا .
the younger son of Muhayysah was found slain one morning at the gate of one morning at the gates of Khaibar. The Messenger of Allah said: "Bring two witnesses to (say) who killed him, and he will hand him over to you." He said: "O Messenger of Allah, where shall I get two witnesses? He was found slain in the morning at their gates." He said: "Will you swear fifty oaths?" He said: "O Messenger of Allah, how can I swear concerning something I do not know?" The Messenger of Allah said: "Then will you accept fifty oaths from them?" He said: "O Messenger of Allah, how can we accept their oaths when they are Jews?" So the Messenger of Allah told them (the Jews) to pay the Diyah and he would help them with half."
Narrated by It was narrated from 'Amr bin Shu'aib, from his father, from his grandfather, that:
Context
This hadith narrates an incident involving the younger son of Muhayysah, who was found murdered. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ provided guidance on how to seek justice in such cases, emphasizing the necessity of evidence and the process of swearing oaths. This highlights the importance of due process in legal matters.
Modern Application
In contemporary legal systems, this hadith underscores the importance of evidence and fair trial procedures. It serves as a reminder of the need for justice to be served through proper channels and the significance of having reliable witnesses in legal disputes.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Qisas (Retribution) and Blood Money because it discusses the principles of retribution and compensation in cases of murder, emphasizing the need for justice and accountability.
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.' "
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."
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."
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.
Or were you witnesses when death approached Jacob, when he said to his sons, "What will you worship after me?" They said, "We will worship your God and the God of your fathers, Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac - one God. And we are Muslims [in submission] to Him."
This hadith is #4730 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 'Amr bin Shu'aib, from his father, from his grandfather, that:.