Volume 4
(Book 16-18)

Book: 16
The Oath, Establishing Responsibilities of Murders, Fighting, Requital

Chapter 1: Al-Qasamah

Sahl b. Abu Hathma and Rafi’ b. Khadij reported that ‘Abdullah b. Sahl b. Zaid and Muhayyisa b. Mas’ud b. Zaid went out and as they reached Khaibar they were separated. Then Muhayyisa found ‘Abdullah b. Sahl having been killed. He buried him, and then came to Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him). They were Huwayyisa b. Mas’ud and ‘Abd al-Rahman b. Sahl, and he (the latter one) was the youngest of the people (those three who had come to seek an interview with the Holy Prophet) began to talk before his Companions (had spoken). Thereupon Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: The eldest one (eldest in regard to age should speak). So he kept quiet, and his companions (Muhayyisa and Huwayyisa) began to speak, and he (‘Abd al Rahman) spoke along with them and they narrated to Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) the murder of ‘Abdullah b. Sahl. Thereupon he said to them: Are you prepared to take fifty oaths so that you may be entitled (to blood-wit) of your companion (or your man who has murdered)? They said: How can we take an oath on a matter which we have not witnessed? He (the Holy Prophet) said: Then the Jews will exonerate themselves by fifty oaths. They said: How can we accept the oaths of people who are unbelievers? When Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) saw that, he himself paid his blood-wit.

Sahl. b. Abu Hathma and Rafi’ b. Khadij reported that Muhayyisa b. Mas’ud and ‘Abdullah b. Sahl went towards Khaibar and they separated near the palm-trees. ‘Abdullah b. Sahl was killed. They accused the Jews (for this act). And there came to Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) his brother (the brother of the slain person) ‘Abd al-Rahman and his cousins Huwayyisa and Muhayyisa; and ‘Abd al-Rahman talked to him about the matter pertaining to (the murder of) his brother, and he was the youngest among them. Thereupon Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: Show regard for the greatness of the old, or he said: Let the eldest begin speaking. Then they (Huwayyisa and Muhayyisa) spoke about the matter of their companion (murder of their cousin, ‘Abdullah b. Sahl). Thereupon Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: Let fifty (persons) among you take oath for levelling the charge (of murder) against a person amongst them, and he would be surrendered to you. They said: We have not witnessed this matter ourselves. How can we then take oath? He (the Holy Prophet) said: The Jews will exonerate themselves by the oaths of fifty of them. They said: Messenger of Allah, they are non-believing people. Thereupon Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) paid the blood wit for him. Sahl said: As one day I entered the fold a she-camel amongst those camels hit me with its leg.

Sahl b. Abu Hathma has narrated this hadith through another chain of transmitters with a slight variation of words, but no mention has been made of the hitting by the she-camel.

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Sahl b. Abu Hathma through another chain of transmitters.

Bushair b. Yasar reported that ‘Abdullah b. Sahl b. Zaid and Muhayyisa b. Mas’ud b. Zaid, both of them were Ansar belonging to the tribe of Banu Haritha, set out to Khaibar during the lifetime of Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him). There was peace during those days and (this place) was inhabited by the Jews. They parted company for their (respective) needs. ‘Abdullab b. Sahl was killed, and his dead body was found in a tank. His companion (Muhayyisa) buried him and came to Medina, and the brothers of the slain ‘Abd al-Rahman b. Sahl. And Muhayyisa and Huwayyisa told Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) the case of ‘Abdullah and the place where he had been murdered. Bushair reported on the authority of one who had seen Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) that he had said to them: You take fifty oaths and you are entitled to blood-wit of (one) slain among you (or your companion). They said: Messenger of Allah, we neither saw (with our own eyes this murder) nor were we present there. Thereupon (Allah’s Messenger is reported to have said): Then the Jews will exonerate themselves by taking fifty oaths. They said: Allah’s Messenger, how can we accept the oath of unbelieving people? Bushair said that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) paid the blood-wit himself.

Bushair b. Yasar reported that a person from the Ansar belonging to the tribe of Banu Haritha who was called ‘Abdullah b. Sahl b. Zaid set out and the son of his uncle called Muhayyisa b. Mas’ud b. Zaid, the rest of the hadith is the same up to the words: “Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) paid the blood-wit himself.” Bushair b. Yasar reported that Sahl b. Abu Hathma said: One camel amongst the camels paid as blood-wit kicked me while I was in the (camel) enclosure.

Bushair b. Yasar al-Ansari reported on the authority of Sahl b. Abu Hathma al-Ansari that some men (of his tribe went to Khaibar, and they were separated from one another, and they found one of them slain. The rest of the hadith is the same. And it was said in this connection: Allah’s Messenger (may peace be him) did not approve of his blood go waste. He paid blood-wit of one hundred camels of Sadaqa.

Abu Laila ‘Abdullah b. ‘Abd al-Rahman b. Sahl reported that the elderly persons of (the tribe) had informed Sahl b. Abu Hathma that ‘Abdullah b. Sahl and Muhayyisa went out to Khaibar under some distress which had afflicted them. Muhayyisa came and informed that Abdutlah b. Sahl had been killed, and (his dead body) had been thrown in a well or in a ditch. He came to the Jews and said: By Allah, it is you who have killed him. They said: By Allah, we have not killed him. He then came to his people, and made mention of that to them. Then came he and his brother Huwayyisa, and he was older than he, and ‘Abd al-Rahman b. Sahl. Then Muhayyisa went to speak, and it was he who had accompanied (‘Abdullah) to Khaibar, whereupon Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said to Muhayyisa: Observe greatness of the great (he meant the seniority of age). Then Huwayyisa spoke and then Muhayyisa also spoke. Thereupon Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: They should either pay blood-wit for your companion, or be prepared for war. Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) wrote about it to them (to the Jews). They wrote: Verily, by Allah, we have not killed him. Thereupon Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said to Huwayyisa and Muhayyisa and Abd al-Rahman: Are you prepared to take oath in order to entitle yourselves for the blood-wit of your companion? They said: No. He (the Holy Prophet) said: Then the Jews will take oath (of their innocence). They said: They are not Muslims. Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him), however, himself paid the blood-wit to them and sent to them one hundred camels until they entered into their houses, Sahl said: One red she-camel among them kicked me.

Sulaiman b. Yasar, the freed slave of Maimuna, the wife of Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him), narrated from one of the Ansari Companions of Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) retained (the practice) of Qasama as it was in the pre-Islamic days.

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Ibn Shihab with the same chain of transmitters but with this addition: “Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) decided (according to Qasama) between the persons of Ansar (and yours) about a slain (Muslim) for which they made claim against the Jews.

This Hadith has been narrated on the authority of Abu Salama b. ‘Abd al-Rahman and Sulaiman b. Yasar.

Chapter 2: Pertaining to the Combatants and Apostates

Anas b. Malik reported that some people belonging (to the tribe) of ‘Uraina came to Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) at Medina, but they found its climate uncongenial. So Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said to them: If you so like, you may go to the camels of Sadaqa and drink their milk and urine. They did so and were all right. They then fell upon the shepherds and killed them and turned apostates from Islam and drove off the camels of the Prophet (may peace be upon him). This news reached Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) and he sent (people) on their track and they were (brought) and handed over to him. He (the Holy Prophet) got their hands cut off, and their feet, and put out their eyes, and threw them on the stony ground until they died.

Anas reported: Eight men of the tribe of ‘Ukl came to Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) and swore allegiance to him on Islam, but found the climate of that land uncongenial to their health and thus they became sick, and they made complaint of that to Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him), and he said: Why don’t you go to (the fold) of our camels along with our shepherd, and make use of their milk and urine. They said: Yes. They set out and drank their (camels’) milk and urine and regained their health. They killed the shepherd and drove away the camels. This (news) reached Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) and he sent them on their track and they were caught and brought to him (the Holy Prophet). He commanded about them, and (thus) their hands and feet were cut off and their eyes were gouged and then they were thrown in the sun, until they died.

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Ibn al-Sabbah with a slight variation of words.

Anas b. Malik reported that some people of the tribe of ‘Ukl or ‘Uraina came to Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him), and they found the climate of Medina uncongenial. Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) commanded them to the milch she-camels and commanded them to drink their urine and their milk. The rest of the hadith is the same (and the concluding words are): “Their eyes were pierced, and they were thrown on the stony ground. They were asking for water, but they were not given water.”

Abu Qilaba reported: I was sitting behind ‘Umar b. ‘Abd al-‘Aziz and he said to the people: What do you say about al-Qasama? Thereupon ‘Anbasa said: Anas b Malik narrated to us such and such (hadith pertaining to al-Qasama). I said: This is what Anas had narrated to me: People came to Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him), and the rest of the hadith is the same. When I (Abu Qilaba) finished (the narration of this hadith), ‘Anbasa said: Hallowed be Allah. I said: Do you blame me (for telling a lie)? He (‘Anbasa) said: No. This is how Anas b Malik narrated to us. O people of Syria, you would not be deprived of good, so long as such (a person) or one like him lives amongst you.

Anas b. Malik reported: There came to Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) eight persons from the tribe of ‘Ukl, but with this addition that he did not cauterise (the wounds which had been inflicted upon them while punishing them).

Anas reported: There came to Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) some people from ‘Uraina. They embraced Islam and swore allegiance to him and there had spread at that time pleurisy. The rest of the hadith is the same (but with this addition): “There were by his (the Prophet’s) side about twenty young men of the Ansar; he sent them (behind) them (culprits), and he also sent along with them one expert in following the track so that he might trace their footprints.”

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Anas b. Malik through another chain of transmitters.

Anas reported that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) pierced their eyes because they had pierced the eyes of the shepherds.

Chapter 3: The Justification of Qisas (Retribution) When One Is Killed with Stone or Any Other Heavy Thing and Killing of a Male for the Murder of a Female

Anas b. Malik reported that a Jew killed a girl with a stone for her silver ornaments. She was brought to Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) when there was yet some life in her. He (the Holy Prophet) said to her: Has so and so killed you? She indicated with the nod of her head: No. He said for the second time, and she again said: No with the nod of her head. He asked for the third time, and she said: Yes with the nod of her head and Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) commanded to crush his head between two stones.

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Shu’ba with the same chain of transmitters and in the hadith narrated on the authority of Ibn Idris (the words are): “He (commanded) to crush his head between two stones.”

Anas reported that a Jew killed a girl of the Ansar for her ornaments and then threw her in a well and smashed her head with a stone. He was caught and brought to the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him), and he commanded that he should be stoned to death. So he was stoned until he died.

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Ayyub with the same chain of transmitters.

Anas b. Malik reported: A girl was found with her head crushed between two stones. They asked her as to who had done that — has so and so (done it) until they mentioned a Jew. She indicated with the nod of her head (that it was so). So the Jew was caught, and he made confession (of his guilt). And Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) commanded that his head be smashed with stones.

Chapter 4: When Anyone Attacks the Life of a Person, or His Limb and the Victim Wards off the Attack and in Self-Defence Either the Life of the Assailant Is Lost or His Limb Broken, There would be No Penalty On the Victim

Imran b. Husain reported: Ya’la b. Munya or Ibn Umayya fought with a person, and the one bit the hand of the other. And he tried to draw his hand from his mouth and thus his fore-teeth ware pulled out. They referred their dispute to Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him), whereupon he said: Does any one of you bite as the camel bites? So there is no blood-wit for it.

This hadith has been transmitted on the authority of Ya’la.

‘Imran b. Husain reported that a person bit the arm of another person; he pulled it out and his fore-tooth fell down. This matter was taken to Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him), and he turned it down saying: Did you want to eat his flesh?

Safwan b. Ya’la reported that a person bit the arm of the servant of Ya’la b. Munya. He pulled it and his fore-tooth fell. The matter was referred to Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) and he turned it down and said: Did you intend to bite his hand, as the camel bites?

‘Imran b. Husain reported that a person bit the hand of a person. He withdrew his hand and his fore-tooth or fore-teeth fell down. He (the man who lost his teeth) referred the matter to Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) and he said, What do you want me to do? Do you ask me that I should order him to put his hand in your mouth, and you should bite it as the camel bites? (If you want retaliation, then the only way out is) that you put your hand in his mouth (allow him) to bite that and then draw it away.

Safwan b. Ya’la b. Munya reported on the authority of his father that there came to Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) a person who had bitten the hand of another person and who had withdrawn his hand (and as a result thereof) his foreteeth had fallen (those which had bitten). The Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) turned down his (claim), and said: Do you wish to bite as the camel bites?

Safwan b. Ya’la b. Umayya thus reported from his father: I participated in the expedition to Tabuk with Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him). And Ya’la used to say: That was the most weighty of my deeds, in my opinion. Safwan said that Ya’la had stated: I had a servant; he quarrelled with another person, and the one bit the hand of the other. (‘Ata’ said that Safwan had told him which one had bitten the hand of the other.) So he whose hand was bitten drew ill from (the mouth) of the one who had bitten it and (in this scuffle) one of his fore-teeth was also drawn out. They both came to Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) and he declared his (claim for the compensation of) tooth as invalid.

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Juraij with the same chain of transmitters.

Chapter 5: The Veracity of Retribution in Case of a Tooth

Anas reported that Umm Haritha, the sister of Rubayyi’ (she was the father’s sister of Hadrat Anas) injured a person (she broke his teeth). The dispute was referred to Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him). Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: Retribution, retribution. Umm Rubayyi’ said: Messenger of Allah, will retribution be taken from so and so? By Allah, it shall not be taken from her (i.e. from Umm Haritha). Thereupon Allah’s Apostle said: Hallowed be Allah. O Umm Rubayyi’, Qisas (retribution is a command, prescribed) in the Book of Allah. She said: No, by Allah, Qisas will never be taken from her; and she went on saying this until they (the relatives of the one who had been injured) accepted the blood-wit. Thereupon Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: Verily there are amongst the servants of Allah (such pious persons) who, if they take oath of Allah, He honours it.

Chapter 6: When It Is Permissible to Take the Life of a Muslim

‘Abdullah (b. Mas’ud) reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: It is not permissible to take the life of a Muslim who bears testimony (to the fact that there is no god but Allah, and I am the Messenger of Allah, but in one of the three cases: the married adulterer, a life for life, and the deserter of his Din (Islam), abandoning the community.

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of A’mash.

‘Abdullah (b. Mas’ud) reported: Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) stood up and said: By Him besides Whom there is no god but He, the blood of a Muslim who bears the testimony that there is no god but Allah, and I am His Messenger, may be lawfully shed only in case of three persons: the one who abandons Islam, and deserts the community Ahmad, one of the narrators, is doubtful whether the Holy Prophet (may peace be upon him) used the word li’l-jama’ah or al-Jama’ah), and the married adulterer, and life for life.

This hadith has been reported on the authority of A’mash with the same chain of narrators but with a slight variation of words, i.e. he did not say: By Him besides Whom there is no god.

Chapter 7: He Who Sheds the Blood First of All Bears the Burden of All Subsequent Murders

‘Abdullah (b. Mas’ud) reported: Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) having said: No person who is killed unjustly, but the share of (this offence of his also) falls upon the first son of Adam, for he was the first to introduce killing.

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Jarir and ‘Isa b. Yunus with a slight variation of words.

Chapter 8: The (Cases of) Bloodshed Would Be Decided First of All on the Day of Judgment

‘Abdullah b. (Mas’ud) reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: The first (thing) that will be decided among people on the Day of Judgment will pertain to bloodshed.