Sunan an-Nasa'i #4736
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 عَمْرُو بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا حَفْصُ بْنُ عُمَرَ، - وَهُوَ الْحَوْضِيُّ - قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا جَامِعُ بْنُ مَطَرٍ، عَنْ عَلْقَمَةَ بْنِ وَائِلٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ كُنْتُ قَاعِدًا عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم جَاءَ رَجُلٌ فِي عُنُقِهِ نِسْعَةٌ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ هَذَا وَأَخِي كَانَا فِي جُبٍّ يَحْفِرَانِهَا فَرَفَعَ الْمِنْقَارَ فَضَرَبَ بِهِ رَأْسَ صَاحِبِهِ فَقَتَلَهُ . فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " اعْفُ عَنْهُ " . فَأَبَى وَقَالَ يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ إِنَّ هَذَا وَأَخِي كَانَا فِي جُبٍّ يَحْفِرَانِهَا فَرَفَعَ الْمِنْقَارَ فَضَرَبَ بِهِ رَأْسَ صَاحِبِهِ فَقَتَلَهُ . فَقَالَ " اعْفُ عَنْهُ " . فَأَبَى ثُمَّ قَامَ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ هَذَا وَأَخِي كَانَا فِي جُبٍّ يَحْفِرَانِهَا فَرَفَعَ الْمِنْقَارَ - أُرَاهُ قَالَ - فَضَرَبَ رَأْسَ صَاحِبِهِ فَقَتَلَهُ . فَقَالَ " اعْفُ عَنْهُ " . فَأَبَى قَالَ " اذْهَبْ إِنْ قَتَلْتَهُ كُنْتَ مِثْلَهُ " . فَخَرَجَ بِهِ حَتَّى جَاوَزَ فَنَادَيْنَاهُ أَمَا تَسْمَعُ مَا يَقُولُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَرَجَعَ فَقَالَ إِنْ قَتَلْتُهُ كُنْتُ مِثْلَهُ قَالَ " نَعَمِ اعْفُ " . فَخَرَجَ يَجُرُّ نِسْعَتَهُ حَتَّى خَفِيَ عَلَيْنَا .
"I was sitting with the Messenger of Allah when a man came with a string around his neck and said: 'O Messenger of Allah, this man and my brother were digging a hole, and he raised his pickax and struck his companion in the head, Killing him. 'The Prophet said: 'Forgive him,' but he refused and said: 'O Prophet of Allah, this man and my brother were digging a whole, and he raised his pickax and struck his companion in the head, killing him.' The Prophet said: 'Forgive him,' but he refused, then he stood up and said: 'O Messenger of Allah, this man and my brother were digging a hole, and he raised his pickax and struck his companion in the head, killing him.' The Prophet said: 'Forgive him,' but he refused. He (the prophet) said: 'Go, but if you kill him, you will be like him. So he took him out, and they called out to him: Didn't you hear what the Messenger of Allah said?' So he came back and he said: 'If I kill him will I be like him?' He said: 'Yes. Forgive him.' Then he went out, dragging his string, until he disappeared from our view."
Narrated by It was narrated from 'Alqamah bin Wa'il that his father said:
Context
In this narrative, a man approaches the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ seeking justice after a tragic incident where his companion was killed accidentally while they were working together. The Prophet repeatedly advises forgiveness, highlighting the importance of mercy and reconciliation over revenge.
Modern Application
This hadith encourages individuals today to practice forgiveness and seek peaceful resolutions in conflicts. It serves as a reminder that holding onto anger can lead to further harm and that compassion can lead to healing.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Justice because it emphasizes the importance of mercy and forgiveness in resolving conflicts, rather than seeking retribution.
Related Ayahs
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 المَائـِدَةِ
Al-Maaida (The Table)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
فَبَعَثَ ٱللَّهُ غُرَابًۭا يَبْحَثُ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ لِيُرِيَهُۥ كَيْفَ يُوَٰرِى سَوْءَةَ أَخِيهِ ۚ قَالَ يَٰوَيْلَتَىٰٓ أَعَجَزْتُ أَنْ أَكُونَ مِثْلَ هَٰذَا ٱلْغُرَابِ فَأُوَٰرِىَ سَوْءَةَ أَخِى ۖ فَأَصْبَحَ مِنَ ٱلنَّٰدِمِينَ
Then Allah sent a crow searching in the ground to show him how to hide the disgrace of his brother. He said, "O woe to me! Have I failed to be like this crow and hide the body of my brother?" And he became of the regretful.
سُورَةُ آلِ عِمۡرَانَ
Aal-i-Imraan (The Family of Imraan)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
فَبِمَا رَحْمَةٍۢ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ لِنتَ لَهُمْ ۖ وَلَوْ كُنتَ فَظًّا غَلِيظَ ٱلْقَلْبِ لَٱنفَضُّوا۟ مِنْ حَوْلِكَ ۖ فَٱعْفُ عَنْهُمْ وَٱسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ وَشَاوِرْهُمْ فِى ٱلْأَمْرِ ۖ فَإِذَا عَزَمْتَ فَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُتَوَكِّلِينَ
So by mercy from Allah, [O Muhammad], you were lenient with them. And if you had been rude [in speech] and harsh in heart, they would have disbanded from about you. So pardon them and ask forgiveness for them and consult them in the matter. And when you have decided, then rely upon Allah. Indeed, Allah loves those who rely [upon Him].
سُورَةُ القَصَصِ
Al-Qasas (The Stories)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
وَدَخَلَ ٱلْمَدِينَةَ عَلَىٰ حِينِ غَفْلَةٍۢ مِّنْ أَهْلِهَا فَوَجَدَ فِيهَا رَجُلَيْنِ يَقْتَتِلَانِ هَٰذَا مِن شِيعَتِهِۦ وَهَٰذَا مِنْ عَدُوِّهِۦ ۖ فَٱسْتَغَٰثَهُ ٱلَّذِى مِن شِيعَتِهِۦ عَلَى ٱلَّذِى مِنْ عَدُوِّهِۦ فَوَكَزَهُۥ مُوسَىٰ فَقَضَىٰ عَلَيْهِ ۖ قَالَ هَٰذَا مِنْ عَمَلِ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنِ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ عَدُوٌّۭ مُّضِلٌّۭ مُّبِينٌۭ
And he entered the city at a time of inattention by its people and found therein two men fighting: one from his faction and one from among his enemy. And the one from his faction called for help to him against the one from his enemy, so Moses struck him and [unintentionally] killed him. [Moses] said, "This is from the work of Satan. Indeed, he is a manifest, misleading enemy."
سُورَةُ يُوسُفَ
Yusuf (Joseph)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
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."
Common Words
164 total117 unique25 repeated
من13x
ٱلله6x
كان3x
أن3x
رقبة3x
مؤمنة3x
فى3x
هذا3x
على3x
مؤمنا2x
إلا2x
خطـا2x
فتحرير2x
مسلمة2x
إلى2x
أهله2x
قوم2x
عدو2x
سوءة2x
قال2x
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About Sunan an-Nasa'i
This hadith is #4736 from Sunan an-Nasa'i, in the Book of The Book of Oaths (qasamah), Retaliation and Blood Money. It is graded Hasan and narrated by It was narrated from 'Alqamah bin Wa'il that his father said:.