Sunan an-Nasa'i #4733
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 إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ، عَنْ عَوْفٍ الأَعْرَابِيِّ، عَنْ عَلْقَمَةَ بْنِ وَائِلٍ الْحَضْرَمِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ جِيءَ بِالْقَاتِلِ الَّذِي قَتَلَ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم جَاءَ بِهِ وَلِيُّ الْمَقْتُولِ فَقَالَ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " أَتَعْفُو " . قَالَ لاَ قَالَ " أَتَقْتُلُ " . قَالَ نَعَمْ قَالَ " اذْهَبْ " . فَلَمَّا ذَهَبَ دَعَاهُ قَالَ " أَتَعْفُو " . قَالَ لاَ . قَالَ " أَتَأْخُذُ الدِّيَةَ " . قَالَ لاَ . قَالَ " أَتَقْتُلُ " . قَالَ نَعَمْ . قَالَ " اذْهَبْ " . فَلَمَّا ذَهَبَ قَالَ " أَمَا إِنَّكَ إِنْ عَفَوْتَ عَنْهُ فَإِنَّهُ يَبُوءُ بِإِثْمِكَ وَإِثْمِ صَاحِبِكَ " . فَعَفَا عَنْهُ فَأَرْسَلَهُ - قَالَ - فَرَأَيْتُهُ يَجُرُّ نِسْعَتَهُ .
A man who had killed someone was brought to the Messenger of Allah, and he was brought by the heir of the victim. The Messenger of Allah said to him. 'Will you forgive him? He said: No.' He said: 'Will you kill him? He said: 'Yes.' He said: 'Go away.' Then when he went away, he called him back and said: will you forgive him?' He said: 'No.' He said: 'Will you accept the Diyah? He said: 'No.' He said: 'will you kill him? He said: 'Yes.' He said: 'Go away.' Then when he had gone he said: If you forgive him, he will carry your sin and the sin of your companion (the victim)." So he forgave him and let him go." He said: "And I saw him dragging his string."
Narrated by It was narrated from 'Alqamah binWa'il Al-Hadrami that his farther said:
Context
In this narration, a man who had committed murder is brought before the Prophet ﷺ, who offers him options for forgiveness or retribution. The dialogue emphasizes the gravity of taking a life and the moral weight of forgiveness. The takeaway is the importance of mercy and the heavy consequences of violence.
Modern Application
This principle is relevant today as it encourages individuals to consider forgiveness over revenge. It highlights the potential for healing and reconciliation in situations of conflict and loss.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Qisas (Retribution) and Punishments (Hudud) because it discusses the options available in cases of murder and the moral implications of forgiveness.
Related Ayahs
سُورَةُ النِّسَاءِ
An-Nisaa (The Women)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
2 ayahs
وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن رَّسُولٍ إِلَّا لِيُطَاعَ بِإِذْنِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ إِذ ظَّلَمُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَهُمْ جَآءُوكَ فَٱسْتَغْفَرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱسْتَغْفَرَ لَهُمُ ٱلرَّسُولُ لَوَجَدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ تَوَّابًۭا رَّحِيمًۭا
And We did not send any messenger except to be obeyed by permission of Allah. And if, when they wronged themselves, they had come to you, [O Muhammad], and asked forgiveness of Allah and the Messenger had asked forgiveness for them, they would have found Allah Accepting of repentance and Merciful.
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 الشُّورَىٰ
Ash-Shura (Consultation)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
وَجَزَٰٓؤُا۟ سَيِّئَةٍۢ سَيِّئَةٌۭ مِّثْلُهَا ۖ فَمَنْ عَفَا وَأَصْلَحَ فَأَجْرُهُۥ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ
And the retribution for an evil act is an evil one like it, but whoever pardons and makes reconciliation - his reward is [due] from Allah. Indeed, He does not like wrongdoers.
سُورَةُ التَّوۡبَةِ
At-Tawba (The Repentance)
1 ayah
ٱسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ أَوْ لَا تَسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ إِن تَسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ سَبْعِينَ مَرَّةًۭ فَلَن يَغْفِرَ ٱللَّهُ لَهُمْ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ كَفَرُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلْفَٰسِقِينَ
Ask forgiveness for them, [O Muhammad], or do not ask forgiveness for them. If you should ask forgiveness for them seventy times - never will Allah forgive them. That is because they disbelieved in Allah and His Messenger, and Allah does not guide the defiantly disobedient people.
سُورَةُ القَصَصِ
Al-Qasas (The Stories)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّى ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِى فَٱغْفِرْ لِى فَغَفَرَ لَهُۥٓ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلْغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ
He said, "My Lord, indeed I have wronged myself, so forgive me," and He forgave him. Indeed, He is the Forgiving, the Merciful.
Common Words
135 total99 unique21 repeated
ٱلله7x
لهم5x
من4x
إلا3x
كان3x
رقبة3x
مؤمنة3x
لا3x
وما2x
أن2x
مؤمنا2x
خطـا2x
فتحرير2x
مسلمة2x
إلى2x
أهله2x
قوم2x
فمن2x
سيئة2x
إنه2x
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About Sunan an-Nasa'i
This hadith is #4733 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 'Alqamah binWa'il Al-Hadrami that his farther said:.