Book 16: Retaliation

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “No retaliation is payable for a wound caused by a dumb animal, for a mine, or for a well.”* (Bukhari and Muslim.) * A longer form is given on p. 380. The reference is said to be an animal which is not at the time under anyone's charge. No responsibility attaches to anyone who has dug a mine or a well in a place where he is entitled to do so if someone falls in.

Ya’ la b. Umayya said: I went with God’s Messenger on the expedition of the army of distress,* and I had a hired servant who fought with a man, one of whom bit the other’s hand. The one who was bitten drew away his hand from the mouth of the one who bit him, dislodging his front tooth which fell out. He went to the Prophet, but he imposed no retaliation for his front tooth, saying, ‘Could he be expected to leave his hand in your mouth when you were crunching it like a male camel?” (Bukhari and Muslim.) * This refers to the expedition to Tabuk in 9 A H. Cf. Al-Qur'an, 9:117.

‘Abdallah b. 'Amr told of hearing God’s Messenger say, “He who is killed protecting his property is a martyr.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Huraira told that a man came and asked God’s Messenger to tell him what he should do if a man came wanting to take his property. He replied, “Do not give him your property.” He asked him to tell him what to do if the man fought with him, and he replied, “Fight with him.” He asked him to tell him what would happen if the man killed him, and he replied, “You will be a martyr.” He asked him to tell him what would happen if he killed the man, and he replied, “He will go to hell.” Muslim transmitted it.

He told that he heard God’s Messenger say, “If anyone were to look into your house without receiving your permission and you were to throw a pebble at him and put out his eye, you would be guilty of no offence.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

Sahl b. Sa'd said that a man looked through a hole in God’s Messenger’s door when God’s Messenger had a spike with which he was scratching his head, so he said, “If I knew that you were seeing me I would poke it in your eyes, for asking permission has been appointed only on account of what people may see.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

'Abdallah b. Mughaffal told that he saw a man throwing pebbles and told him not to do so, for God’s Messenger had forbidden it, saying, “Game is not caught by such means, neither is an enemy injured, but you may sometimes break a tooth or put out an eye.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Musa reported God’s Messenger as saying, “When one of you passes along in our mosque or in our market having arrows with him he should grasp their points lest he cause any injury by them to a Muslim.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “None of you must point a weapon at his brother, for he does not know whether perhaps the devil may draw it out while it is in his hand as a result of which he will fall into a pit in hell.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

He reported God’s Messenger as saying, “If anyone points a piece of iron at his brother the angels will curse him till he puts it down, even if he is his brother who has the same father and mother.” Bukhari transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Umar and Abu Huraira reported the Prophet (ﷺ) as saying, “He who points a weapon at us does not belong to us.” Bukhari transmitted it, and Muslim added, “And he who treats us dishonestly does not belong to us.”

Salama b. al-Akwa' reported God’s Messenger as saying, “He who draws a sword against us does not belong to us.” Muslim transmitted it.

Hisham b. ‘Urwa, on his father’s authority, told that Hisham b. Hakim came upon some Nabataeans in Syria who had been made to stand in the sun with olive-oil poured over their heads. On his asking what the meaning of that was and being told that they were suffering punishment concerning the land-tax, Hisham said he could testify to having heard God’s Messenger say, “God will punish those who punish people in this world.” Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “If you live long you will soon see people with things like ox-tails in their hands going out in the morning subject to God’s anger and coming back in the evening subject to God’s displeasure.” A version has, “coming back in the evening subject to God’s curse.” Muslim transmitted it.

He reported God’s Messenger as saying, “There are two classes of those who will go to hell whom I have not seen: people with whips like ox-tails with which they strike people; and women with such clothing as to be virtually naked, who incite men and are inclined towards men, whose heads are like the swaying humps of Bactrian camels. Such women will not enter paradise or experience its fragrance, though its fragrance can be experienced at such and such a distance.” Muslim transmitted it.

He reported God’s Messenger as saying, “When any of you fights he must avoid the face, for God created Adam in His own image.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)