87/31. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 6915 — Ali’s Sheet of Legal Rulings
A Muslim should not be killed for killing a Kafir
Hadith About Ali’s Sheet, Diya, Captives, and Qisas
Sahih Bukhari : 6915
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 6915
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ يُونُسَ، حَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرٌ، حَدَّثَنَا مُطَرِّفٌ، أَنَّ عَامِرًا، حَدَّثَهُمْ عَنْ أَبِي جُحَيْفَةَ، قَالَ قُلْتُ لِعَلِيٍّ. وَحَدَّثَنَا صَدَقَةُ بْنُ الْفَضْلِ، أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا مُطَرِّفٌ، سَمِعْتُ الشَّعْبِيَّ، يُحَدِّثُ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جُحَيْفَةَ، قَالَ سَأَلْتُ عَلِيًّا ـ رضى الله عنه ـ هَلْ عِنْدَكُمْ شَىْءٌ مِمَّا لَيْسَ فِي الْقُرْآنِ ـ وَقَالَ ابْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ مَرَّةً مَا لَيْسَ عِنْدَ النَّاسِ ـ فَقَالَ وَالَّذِي فَلَقَ الْحَبَّةَ وَبَرَأَ النَّسَمَةَ مَا عِنْدَنَا إِلاَّ مَا فِي الْقُرْآنِ إِلاَّ فَهْمًا يُعْطَى رَجُلٌ فِي كِتَابِهِ وَمَا فِي الصَّحِيفَةِ. قُلْتُ وَمَا فِي الصَّحِيفَةِ قَالَ الْعَقْلُ، وَفِكَاكُ الأَسِيرِ، وَأَنْ لاَ يُقْتَلَ مُسْلِمٌ بِكَافِرٍ.
Abu Juhaifa Narrated from:
I asked `Ali "Do you have anything Divine literature besides what is in the Qur'an?" Or, as Uyaina once said, "Apart from what the people have?" `Ali said, "By Him Who made the grain split (germinate) and created the soul, we have nothing except what is in the Qur'an and the ability (gift) of understanding Allah's Book which He may endow a man, with and what is written in this sheet of paper."I asked, "What is on this paper?" He replied, "The legal regulations of Diya (Blood-money) and the (ransom for) releasing of the captives, and the judgment that no Muslim should be killed in Qisas (equality in punishment) for killing a Kafir (disbeliever).
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 6915In-book reference : Book 87, Hadith 53USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 9, Book 83, Hadith 50
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 6915
This Hadith about Ali’s sheet records a question asked to Ali about whether he had any divine literature besides what was in the Qur’an. Ali answered by swearing that they had nothing except the Qur’an, understanding of Allah’s Book given to a person, and what was written in a sheet. When asked what was in the sheet, he mentioned legal regulations of Diya, ransom for releasing captives, and the judgment that no Muslim should be killed in Qisas for killing a disbeliever. The Hadith highlights written legal rulings, the role of understanding the Qur’an, and specific legal matters. The explanation should stay with the text and not expand beyond it.
What we learn from this hadith
- Ali denied having hidden divine literature beyond what he mentioned.
- Understanding Allah’s Book is described as a gift Allah may give.
- The sheet included rulings on Diya and freeing captives.
- The Hadith records a specific Qisas judgment mentioned by Ali.
