93/38. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 7192 — Blood Money and Oaths
The writing of a letter by the ruler to representatives and by judge to workers
Hadith About Blood Money and Legal Oaths
Sahih Bukhari : 7192
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 7192
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَالِكٌ، عَنْ أَبِي لَيْلَى، ح حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، حَدَّثَنِي مَالِكٌ، عَنْ أَبِي لَيْلَى بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ سَهْلٍ، عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ أَبِي حَثْمَةَ، أَنَّهُ أَخْبَرَهُ هُوَ، وَرِجَالٌ، مِنْ كُبَرَاءِ قَوْمِهِ أَنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ سَهْلٍ وَمُحَيِّصَةَ خَرَجَا إِلَى خَيْبَرَ مِنْ جَهْدٍ أَصَابَهُمْ، فَأُخْبِرَ مُحَيِّصَةُ أَنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ قُتِلَ وَطُرِحَ فِي فَقِيرٍ أَوْ عَيْنٍ، فَأَتَى يَهُودَ فَقَالَ أَنْتُمْ وَاللَّهِ قَتَلْتُمُوهُ. قَالُوا مَا قَتَلْنَاهُ وَاللَّهِ. ثُمَّ أَقْبَلَ حَتَّى قَدِمَ عَلَى قَوْمِهِ فَذَكَرَ لَهُمْ، وَأَقْبَلَ هُوَ وَأَخُوهُ حُوَيِّصَةُ ـ وَهْوَ أَكْبَرُ مِنْهُ ـ وَعَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ سَهْلٍ، فَذَهَبَ لِيَتَكَلَّمَ وَهْوَ الَّذِي كَانَ بِخَيْبَرَ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم لِمُحَيِّصَةَ " كَبِّرْ كَبِّرْ ". يُرِيدُ السِّنَّ، فَتَكَلَّمَ حُوَيِّصَةُ ثُمَّ تَكَلَّمَ مُحَيِّصَةُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِمَّا أَنْ يَدُوا صَاحِبَكُمْ، وَإِمَّا أَنْ يُؤْذِنُوا بِحَرْبٍ ". فَكَتَبَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِلَيْهِمْ بِهِ، فَكُتِبَ مَا قَتَلْنَاهُ. فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لِحُوَيِّصَةَ وَمُحَيِّصَةَ وَعَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ " أَتَحْلِفُونَ وَتَسْتَحِقُّونَ دَمَ صَاحِبِكُمْ ". قَالُوا لاَ. قَالَ " أَفَتَحْلِفُ لَكُمْ يَهُودُ ". قَالُوا لَيْسُوا بِمُسْلِمِينَ. فَوَدَاهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِنْ عِنْدِهِ مِائَةَ نَاقَةٍ حَتَّى أُدْخِلَتِ الدَّارَ. قَالَ سَهْلٌ فَرَكَضَتْنِي مِنْهَا نَاقَةٌ.
Abu Laila bin `Abdullah bin `Abdur-Rahman bin Sahl Narrated from:
Sahl bin Abi Hathma and some great men of his tribe said, `Abdullah bin 'Sahl and Muhaiyisa went out to Khaibar as they were struck with poverty and difficult living conditions. Then Muhaiyisa was informed that `Abdullah had been killed and thrown in a pit or a spring. Muhaiyisa went to the Jews and said, "By Allah, you have killed my companion." The Jews said, "By Allah, we have not killed him." Muhaiyisa then came back to his people and told them the story.He, his elder brother Huwaiyisa and `Abdur-Rahman bin Sahl came (to the Prophet) and he who had been at Khaibar, proceeded to speak, but the Prophet (ﷺ) said to Muhaiyisa, "The eldest! The eldest!" meaning, "Let the eldest of you speak." So Huwaiyisa spoke first and then Muhaiyisa. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "The Jews should either pay the blood money of your (deceased) companion or be ready for war." After that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) wrote a letter to the Jews in that respect, and they wrote that they had not killed him.Then Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said to Huwaiyisa, Muhaiyisa and `Abdur-Rahman, "Can you take an oath by which you will be entitled to take the blood money?" They said, "No." He said (to them), "Shall we ask the Jews to take an oath before you?" They replied, "But the Jews are not Muslims." So Allah's Apostle gave them one-hundred she-camels as blood money from himself. Sahl added: When those she-camels were made to enter the house, one of them kicked me with its leg.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 7192In-book reference : Book 93, Hadith 54USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 9, Book 89, Hadith 302
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 7192
This hadith about blood money explains how the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم handled a serious murder claim with care. Abdullah bin Sahl was found killed, and his relatives came to present the matter. When the younger man began to speak, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said, "The eldest! The eldest!" This taught order in speech during a serious case. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم wrote to the accused group, and they denied killing him. He then asked the claimants if they could take an oath to establish their right to blood money, but they said no. In the end, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم paid one hundred she-camels from himself. The hadith shows legal care, respectful speech, and concern for the victim's family.
What we learn from this hadith
- Serious claims should be handled with order and care.
- The eldest may be given the first chance to speak in formal matters.
- Oaths had a role in this legal case.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم showed concern for the family of the killed person.
