Sunan an-Nasa'i #4734
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 بَشَّارٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ عَوْفِ بْنِ أَبِي جَمِيلَةَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي حَمْزَةُ أَبُو عَمْرٍو الْعَائِذِيُّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَلْقَمَةُ بْنُ وَائِلٍ، عَنْ وَائِلٍ، قَالَ شَهِدْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم حِينَ جِيءَ بِالْقَاتِلِ يَقُودُهُ وَلِيُّ الْمَقْتُولِ فِي نِسْعَةٍ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لِوَلِيِّ الْمَقْتُولِ " أَتَعْفُو " . قَالَ لاَ . قَالَ " أَتَأْخُذُ الدِّيَةَ " . قَالَ لاَ . قَالَ " فَتَقْتُلُهُ " . قَالَ نَعَمْ . قَالَ " اذْهَبْ بِهِ " . فَلَمَّا ذَهَبَ بِهِ فَوَلَّى مِنْ عِنْدِهِ دَعَاهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ " أَتَعْفُو " . قَالَ لاَ . قَالَ " أَتَأْخُذُ الدِّيَةَ " . قَالَ لاَ . قَالَ " فَتَقْتُلُهُ " . قَالَ نَعَمْ . قَالَ " اذْهَبْ بِهِ " . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عِنْدَ ذَلِكَ " أَمَا إِنَّكَ إِنْ عَفَوْتَ عَنْهُ يَبُوءُ بِإِثْمِهِ وَإِثْمِ صَاحِبِكَ " . فَعَفَا عَنْهُ وَتَرَكَهُ فَأَنَا رَأَيْتُهُ يَجُرُّ نِسْعَتَهُ .
"I saw the Messenger of Allah when the heir of a victim brought the killer, leading him by a string. The Messenger of Allah said to the heir of the victim: Will you forgive him?' He said: 'No., He said: 'Will you accept Diyah?' He said: 'No.' He said: 'Will you kill him?' He said: 'Yes.' He said" 'Take him away (to kill him).' When he took him and turned away, he turned to those who were with him, and called him back, and said to him: 'Will you forgive him?' He said: No.' He said: 'Will you accept Diyah?' He said: No.' He said: 'Will you kill him?' He said: 'Yes.' He said: 'Take him away.' Then the Messenger of Allah said: 'If you forgive him, he will carry your sin and the sin of your companion (the victim).' So he forgave him and left him, and I was him dragging his string."
Narrated by It was narrated that Wa'il said:
Context
This hadith illustrates a scenario where the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ guided the heir of a victim in a case of retribution. The dialogue emphasizes the importance of forgiveness and the weight of taking a life, highlighting the moral complexities involved in matters of justice.
Modern Application
In contemporary society, this principle encourages individuals to consider forgiveness as a powerful option in resolving conflicts. It promotes the idea that mercy can coexist with justice, fostering a more compassionate community.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Qisas (Retribution) and Punishments (Hudud) because it deals with the principles of justice and the consequences of taking a life.
Related Ayahs
سُورَةُ النِّسَاءِ
An-Nisaa (The Women)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
2 ayahs
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.
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.
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.
سُورَةُ المُنَافِقُونَ
Al-Munaafiqoon (The Hypocrites)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ تَعَالَوْا۟ يَسْتَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ رَسُولُ ٱللَّهِ لَوَّوْا۟ رُءُوسَهُمْ وَرَأَيْتَهُمْ يَصُدُّونَ وَهُم مُّسْتَكْبِرُونَ
And when it is said to them, "Come, the Messenger of Allah will ask forgiveness for you," they turn their heads aside and you see them evading while they are arrogant.
سُورَةُ الفُرۡقَانِ
Al-Furqaan (The Criterion)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
وَيَوْمَ يَعَضُّ ٱلظَّالِمُ عَلَىٰ يَدَيْهِ يَقُولُ يَٰلَيْتَنِى ٱتَّخَذْتُ مَعَ ٱلرَّسُولِ سَبِيلًۭا
And the Day the wrongdoer will bite on his hands [in regret] he will say, "Oh, I wish I had taken with the Messenger a way.
Common Words
146 total113 unique21 repeated
ٱلله8x
من4x
كان3x
إلا3x
رقبة3x
مؤمنة3x
وما2x
أن2x
مؤمنا2x
خطـا2x
فتحرير2x
مسلمة2x
إلى2x
أهله2x
قوم2x
لكم2x
رسول2x
ولو2x
لهم2x
ٱلرسول2x
Related Hadiths
About Sunan an-Nasa'i
This hadith is #4734 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 Wa'il said:.