Book 16: Retaliation

'Abdallah b. ‘Amr reported the Prophet (ﷺ) as saying, “The passing away of the world would mean less to God than the murder of a Muslim man.” Tirmidhi and Nasa’i transmitted it. Some traced it only to the Companion, and that is the soundest view. Ibn Majah transmitted it on the authority of al-Bara’ b. 'Azib.

Abu Sa'id and Abu Huraira reported God's Messenger as saying, “If the inhabitants of heaven and earth were to share in the blood of a believer, God would overturn them in hell.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a gharib tradition.

Ibn ‘Abbas reported the Prophet (ﷺ) as saying, “On the day of resurrection the slain will bring the slayer with his forelock and his head in his hand, his own jugular vein meanwhile dripping with blood, and he will say, ‘My Lord, he killed me’ till he brings him near the Throne.” Tirmidhi, Nasa’i and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Abu Umama b. Sahl b. Hunaif told that when ‘Uthman b. ‘Affan was besieged he looked down and said: I adjure you by God. Are you aware that God’s Messenger said, “It is not lawful to kill a man who is a Muslim except for one of three reasons: fornication after marriage, or unbelief after accepting Islam, or wrongfully killing someone, for which he may be killed”? I swear by God that I have not committed fornication before or after the coming of Islam, or apostatised since I swore allegiance to God's Messenger, or killed anyone whom God has declared inviolate; so for what reason do you want to kill me? Tirmidhi, Nasa'i and Ibn Majah transmitted it, and Darimi gives the wording of the tradition.

Abu ad-Darda’ reported God’s Messenger as saying, “A believer will continue to go on quickly and well* so long as he does not kill anyone unlawfully, but when he does so he will grow weary.” Abu Dawud transmitted it. *i.e. quick to obey God’s commands and observing well what is due to God and man.

He reported God’s Messenger as saying, “God may forgive every sin, except in the case of one who dies a polytheist, or one who purposely kills a believer.” Abu Dawud transmitted it, and Nasa’i transmitted it on the authority of Mu'awiya.

Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s Messenger as saying, “The prescribed punishments are not to be inflicted in mosques and a father is not to be killed for a son.” Tirmidhi and Darimi transmitted it.

Abu Rimtha said: I came to God’s Messenger with my father, and on his asking who this was along with him, he replied, “He is my son; be witness to the fact.” He said, “He will not bring evil on you, nor will you bring evil on him.”* Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it. * This is explained as meaning that neither will be punished for the wrong done by the other. In Sharh as-sunna there is an addition at the beginning. He said: I went in with my father to see God’s Messenger, and when my father saw what was on God's Messenger’s back he said, “Let me treat what is on your back, for I am a physician.” He replied, “You are the helper, but God is the Physician.”* *i.e. you act in a gentle manner giving help and advice, but only God can cure.

‘Amr b. Shu'aib, on his father’s authority, said his grandfather told that Suraqa b. Malik said he was present when God's Messenger allowed a father to take retaliation on his son, but did not allow a son to take retaliation on his father. Tirmidhi transmitted it, declaring it to be weak.

Al-Hasan, on Samura’s authority, quoted God’s Messenger as saying, “If anyone kills his slave we will kill him, and if anyone maims his slave we will maim him.” Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it, and Nasa’i added in another version, “If anyone castrates his slave we will castrate him.”

'Amr b. Shu'aib, on his father’s authority, said his grandfather reported God’s Messenger as saying, “If anyone kills a man deliberately he is to be handed over to the relatives of the one who has been killed. If they wish they may kill him, but if they wish they may accept blood wit, which is thirty she-camels in their fourth year, thirty in their fifth year, and forty pregnant she-camels. Any arrangement they make with him is for them to decide.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

‘Ali reported the Prophet (ﷺ) as saying, “The lives of all Muslims are equal; the lowliest of them can guarantee their protection, the most distant can keep others from breaking protection he has given,* and they are one band against others. A Muslim must not be killed for an infidel, nor must one who has been given a covenant be killed while his covenant holds.” Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it, and Ibn Majah transmitted it on the authority of Ibn ‘Abbas. * The interpretation which seems to be preferred is that no matter how far one may live from the land of infidels, any protection one may guarantee to an infidel must be respected by all Muslims. Another possible explanation is that when a detachment is sent ahead into infidel country those who remain behind them are entitled to their portion of any spoil they take, but it is felt that this meaning does not suit the context. The Arabic words are wa-yaruddu 'alaihim aqsahum.

Abu Shuraih al-Khuza'i told that he heard God's Messenger say, “If a relative of anyone is killed, or if he suffers khabal, which means a wound, he may choose one of three things, but if he wants anything more* you must restrain him. He may retaliate, or forgive, or receive compensation; but if he accepts one of these and afterwards asks something more, he will go to hell for ever and ever.” Darimi transmitted it. * Literally “the fourth.”

Ta’us, on the authority of Ibn ‘Abbas, reported God’s Messenger as saying, “If anyone is killed in error when people are throwing stones, or by beating with whips, or striking with a stick, it is accidental and the compensation for accidental death is due.* But if anyone kills someone deliberately retaliation is due, and if anyone tries to prevent it God’s curse and anger will rest on him, and neither supererogatory nor obligatory acts will be accepted from him.” Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it. *These are instances in which the actual person who killed him is not clearly known, or where there was no intention to kill.

Jabir reported God’s Messenger as saying, “I will not forgive any-one who kills after accepting blood wit.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Abud Darda’ told that he heard God’s Messenger say, “No one will suffer any bodily injury and forgive it* without God raising him a degree for it and removing a sin from him.” Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it. * Literally "give it as sadaqa.”