65/2.23. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 4500 — Justice, Forgiveness, and a Fulfilled Oath
"O you who believe! Al- Qisas (the Law of Equality in punishment) is prescribed for you..." (V.2:178)
{عُفِيَ} تُرِكَ.
Hadith About Al-Qisas: Justice, Forgiveness, and Trust in Allah
Sahih Bukhari : 4500
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 4500
حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُنِيرٍ، سَمِعَ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ بَكْرٍ السَّهْمِيَّ، حَدَّثَنَا حُمَيْدٌ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، أَنَّ الرُّبَيِّعَ، عَمَّتَهُ كَسَرَتْ ثَنِيَّةَ جَارِيَةٍ، فَطَلَبُوا إِلَيْهَا الْعَفْوَ فَأَبَوْا، فَعَرَضُوا الأَرْشَ فَأَبَوْا، فَأَتَوْا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَأَبَوْا إِلاَّ الْقِصَاصَ، فَأَمَرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِالْقِصَاصِ، فَقَالَ أَنَسُ بْنُ النَّضْرِ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، أَتُكْسَرُ ثَنِيَّةُ الرُّبَيِّعِ لاَ وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ لاَ تُكْسَرُ ثَنِيَّتُهَا. فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " يَا أَنَسُ كِتَابُ اللَّهِ الْقِصَاصُ ". فَرَضِيَ الْقَوْمُ فَعَفَوْا، فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِنَّ مِنْ عِبَادِ اللَّهِ مَنْ لَوْ أَقْسَمَ عَلَى اللَّهِ لأَبَرَّهُ ".
Anas Narrated from:
Narrated Anas: That his aunt, Ar-Rubai' broke an incisor tooth of a girl. My aunt's family requested the girl's relatives for forgiveness but they refused; then they proposed a compensation, but they refused. Then they went to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and refused everything except Al-Qisas (i.e. equality in punishment). So Allah's Apostle passed the judgment of Al-Qisas (i.e. equality of punishment).Anas bin Al-Nadr said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! Will the incisor tooth of Ar-Rubai be broken? No, by Him Who sent you with the Truth, her incisor tooth will not be broken." Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "O Anas! The prescribed law of Allah is equality in punishment (i.e. Al-Qisas.)" Thereupon those people became satisfied and forgave her. Then Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Among Allah's Worshippers there are some who, if they took Allah's Oath (for something), Allah fulfill their oaths."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4500In-book reference : Book 65, Hadith 27USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 6, Book 60, Hadith 27
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 4500
This Hadith about Al-Qisas shows a serious case where an incisor tooth was broken and the matter reached Allah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم. The family of Ar-Rubai asked for forgiveness first, and then offered compensation, but the other side refused both and asked for equal punishment. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم judged by Al-Qisas, because he said that the prescribed law of Allah is equality in punishment. The Hadith also shows the beauty of forgiveness, because the injured party later became satisfied and pardoned her. Anas bin Al-Nadr spoke with deep trust in Allah, and the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said that some of Allah’s worshippers are so close to Allah that when they take an oath by Him, Allah fulfills it.
What we learn from this hadith
- Justice must be respected even when the ruling is hard for one’s own family.
- Forgiveness is allowed when the injured party willingly accepts it.
- Compensation may be offered, but the wronged side has a right to seek lawful judgment.
- Some servants of Allah have a special standing shown through their sincere oaths.
