86/37. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 6840 — Rajm Confirmation
The legal regulation for non-Muslims under the protection of a Muslim state
Hadith About Rajm and Honest Uncertainty
Sahih Bukhari : 6840
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 6840
حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَاحِدِ، حَدَّثَنَا الشَّيْبَانِيُّ، سَأَلْتُ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ أَبِي أَوْفَى عَنِ الرَّجْمِ، فَقَالَ رَجَمَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم. فَقُلْتُ أَقَبْلَ النُّورِ أَمْ بَعْدَهُ قَالَ لاَ أَدْرِي. تَابَعَهُ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُسْهِرٍ وَخَالِدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ وَالْمُحَارِبِيُّ وَعَبِيدَةُ بْنُ حُمَيْدٍ عَنِ الشَّيْبَانِيِّ. وَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمُ الْمَائِدَةُ. وَالأَوَّلُ أَصَحُّ.
Ash-Shaibani Narrated from:
I asked `Abdullah bin Abi `Aufa about the Rajam (stoning somebody to death for committing illegal sexual intercourse). He replied, "The Prophet (ﷺ) carried out the penalty of Rajam," I asked, "Was that before or after the revelation of Surat-an-Nur?" He replied, "I do not know."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 6840In-book reference : Book 86, Hadith 63USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 8, Book 82, Hadith 824
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 6840
This hadith about Rajm is short and careful. Ash-Shaibani asked Abdullah bin Abi Awfa whether the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم carried out the penalty of Rajm. He answered, Yes. When asked whether it was before or after the revelation of Surat an-Nur, he replied, I do not know. The hadith therefore gives two lessons from the text itself: it confirms that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم carried out Rajm, and it shows honest limits in reporting knowledge. The narrator did not guess when he did not know. People searching for this report usually type hadith about Rajm, Bukhari 6840 explanation, stoning before or after Surah Nur, and Abdullah bin Abi Awfa Rajm hadith.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم carried out Rajm according to the answer in the hadith.
- The narrator did not claim knowledge about timing he did not have.
- It is acceptable to say, I do not know, when a detail is unknown.
- The report keeps the answer limited to what was asked.
