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 عِمْرَانُ بْنُ بَكَّارٍ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدٌ، عَنْ عَطَاءِ بْنِ أَبِي رَبَاحٍ، عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنْ عَمَّيْهِ، سَلَمَةَ وَيَعْلَى ابْنَىْ أُمَيَّةَ قَالاَ خَرَجْنَا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي غَزْوَةِ تَبُوكَ وَمَعَنَا صَاحِبٌ لَنَا فَقَاتَلَ رَجُلاً مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ فَعَضَّ الرَّجُلُ ذِرَاعَهُ فَجَذَبَهَا مِنْ فِيهِ فَطَرَحَ ثَنِيَّتَهُ فَأَتَى الرَّجُلُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَلْتَمِسُ الْعَقْلَ فَقَالَ
" يَنْطَلِقُ أَحَدُكُمْ إِلَى أَخِيهِ فَيَعَضُّهُ كَعَضِيضِ الْفَحْلِ ثُمَّ يَأْتِي يَطْلُبُ الْعَقْلَ لاَ عَقْلَ لَهَا " . فَأَبْطَلَهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم .
"We went out with the Messenger of Allah on the campaign of Tabuk, and there was a friend of ours with us, who fought with a man from among the Muslims. The man bit him on the forearm, so he pulled it away from his mouth and a tooth fell out. The man came to the Prophet, seeking blood money, but his brother and bite him like a stallion bites, then come and demand blood money? There is no blood money for that." And the Messenger of Allah juddgedit to be invalid.
Narrated by It was narrated from Safwan bin 'Abdullah that his two paternal uncles, Salamah and Ya'la, the sons of Umayyah, said:
Context
This hadith recounts an incident during the campaign of Tabuk where a man sought blood money after being bitten by another Muslim. The Prophet ﷺ dismissed the claim, emphasizing that such actions do not warrant compensation. This highlights the importance of understanding the context of injuries within the community.
Modern Application
In contemporary life, this hadith serves as a reminder to approach conflicts and injuries with wisdom and understanding. It encourages individuals to resolve disputes amicably rather than seeking retribution, fostering a spirit of forgiveness.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Blood Money because it addresses the invalidity of seeking compensation for injuries that occur in the context of conflict among Muslims.
And We ordained for them therein a life for a life, an eye for an eye, a nose for a nose, an ear for an ear, a tooth for a tooth, and for wounds is legal retribution. But whoever gives [up his right as] charity, it is an expiation for him. And whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed - then it is those who are the wrongdoers.
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.
It is not [attributable] to any prophet that he would act unfaithfully [in regard to war booty]. And whoever betrays, [taking unlawfully], will come with what he took on the Day of Resurrection. Then will every soul be [fully] compensated for what it earned, and they will not be wronged.
And he who does not find [a slave] - then a fast for two months consecutively before they touch one another; and he who is unable - then the feeding of sixty poor persons. That is for you to believe [completely] in Allah and His Messenger; and those are the limits [set by] Allah. And for the disbelievers is a painful punishment.
This hadith is #4775 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 Safwan bin 'Abdullah that his two paternal uncles, Salamah and Ya'la, the sons of Umayyah, said:.