What is Sunan an-Nasa'i 4768 about?

This hadith from Sunan an-Nasa'i (Book of The Book of Oaths (qasamah), Retaliation and Blood Money), narrated by It was narrated from 'Imran bin Hussain that:, states: "a man bit the hand of another man, who pulled his hand away, and the man's front tooth (or from teeth) fell out. He complained about that to the Messenger of Allah, and the Messenger of Allah said: "W…"

Is this hadith authentic?

This hadith is graded Sahih. Sahih hadiths are considered the most authentic grade in hadith classification.

Which collection is this hadith from?

This hadith is from Sunan an-Nasa'i, which contains 5,768 hadiths across 52 books. It is hadith number 4768 in the Book of The Book of Oaths (qasamah), Retaliation and Blood Money.

I searched for a different number — is this the right hadith?

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#4767

#4768

Sunan an-Nasa'i

#4769

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Sunan an-Nasa'i #4768

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 أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عُثْمَانَ أَبُو الْجَوْزَاءِ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا قُرَيْشُ بْنُ أَنَسٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَوْنٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ سِيرِينَ، عَنْ عِمْرَانَ بْنِ حُصَيْنٍ، أَنَّ رَجُلاً، عَضَّ يَدَ رَجُلٍ فَانْتَزَعَ يَدَهُ فَسَقَطَتْ ثَنِيَّتُهُ أَوْ قَالَ ثَنَايَاهُ فَاسْتَعْدَى عَلَيْهِ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ مَا تَأْمُرُنِي تَأْمُرُنِي أَنْ آمُرَهُ أَنْ يَدَعَ يَدَهُ فِي فِيكَ تَقْضَمُهَا كَمَا يَقْضَمُ الْفَحْلُ إِنْ شِئْتَ فَادْفَعْ إِلَيْهِ يَدَكَ حَتَّى يَقْضَمَهَا ثُمَّ انْتَزِعْهَا إِنْ شِئْتَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

a man bit the hand of another man, who pulled his hand away, and the man's front tooth (or from teeth) fell out. He complained about that to the Messenger of Allah, and the Messenger of Allah said: "What do you want? Do you want me to tell him to put his hand in your mouth, so that you can bite it like a stallion bites? Or, do you want to give him your hand so that he may bite it, then you can pull it away if you want?"

Narrated by It was narrated from 'Imran bin Hussain that:

Context

In this hadith, a man bites another's hand, resulting in the loss of a tooth. The injured party seeks justice from the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, who presents a unique perspective on retaliation. Instead of endorsing a direct response, he offers a metaphorical suggestion, emphasizing the absurdity of seeking revenge in such a manner and highlighting the importance of self-control and wisdom in conflict resolution.

Modern Application

This principle encourages individuals to consider the consequences of their actions and to seek peaceful resolutions rather than retaliatory measures. In today's context, it serves as a reminder to approach conflicts with patience and understanding, promoting dialogue over aggression.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Blood Money and Punishments (Hudud) because it addresses the consequences of causing harm to others and the potential for compensation in cases of injury.

Blood Money Punishments (Hudud)