93/12. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 7157 — Apostasy Case in Yemen
A governor can sentence to death a person without consulting the Imam
Hadith About the Case of a Man Who Reverted to Judaism
Sahih Bukhari : 7157
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 7157
حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الصَّبَّاحِ، حَدَّثَنَا مَحْبُوبُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ، حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدٌ، عَنْ حُمَيْدِ بْنِ هِلاَلٍ، عَنْ أَبِي بُرْدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى، أَنَّ رَجُلاً، أَسْلَمَ ثُمَّ تَهَوَّدَ، فَأَتَى مُعَاذُ بْنُ جَبَلٍ وَهْوَ عِنْدَ أَبِي مُوسَى فَقَالَ مَا هَذَا قَالَ أَسْلَمَ ثُمَّ تَهَوَّدَ. قَالَ لاَ أَجْلِسُ حَتَّى أَقْتُلَهُ، قَضَاءُ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم.
Abu Musa Narrated from:
A man embraced Islam and then reverted back to Judaism. Mu`adh bin Jabal came and saw the man with Abu Musa. Mu`adh asked, "What is wrong with this (man)?" Abu Musa replied, "He embraced Islam and then reverted back to Judaism." Mu`adh said, "I will not sit down unless you kill him (as it is) the verdict of Allah and His Apostle.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 7157In-book reference : Book 93, Hadith 21USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 9, Book 89, Hadith 271
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 7157
This hadith reports a legal case during the time when Abu Musa and Mu'adh were in Yemen. A man had embraced Islam and then returned to Judaism. When Mu'adh saw him with Abu Musa, he asked about the matter. Abu Musa explained what had happened. Mu'adh then said he would not sit until the man was killed, calling it the verdict of Allah and His Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم). The text is about a judgment in a specific case. Because the narration is brief and legal in nature, it should be read carefully and not expanded beyond what is stated in the translation.
What we learn from this hadith
- The hadith reports a serious legal case involving apostasy.
- Mu'adh referred to the verdict of Allah and His Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم).
- The narration shows that rulers dealt with legal matters in Yemen.
- The text should be understood carefully because it concerns judgment.
