36/1. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 3929 — Bearing Witness and Letting Him Go
Refraining from harming one who says: La Ilaha Illallah
Hadith About Bearing Witness to La Ilaha Illallah
Sunan Ibn Majah : 3929
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 3929
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ بَكْرٍ السَّهْمِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا حَاتِمُ بْنُ أَبِي صَغِيرَةَ، عَنِ النُّعْمَانِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ، أَنَّ عَمْرَو بْنَ أَوْسٍ، أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ أَبَاهُ أَوْسًا أَخْبَرَهُ قَالَ إِنَّا لَقُعُودٌ عِنْدَ النَّبِيِّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ وَهُوَ يَقُصُّ عَلَيْنَا وَيُذَكِّرُنَا إِذْ أَتَاهُ رَجُلٌ فَسَارَّهُ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " اذْهَبُوا بِهِ فَاقْتُلُوهُ " . فَلَمَّا وَلَّى الرَّجُلُ دَعَاهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ فَقَالَ " هَلْ تَشْهَدُ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ " . قَالَ نَعَمْ قَالَ " اذْهَبُوا فَخَلُّوا سَبِيلَهُ فَإِنَّمَا أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أُقَاتِلَ النَّاسَ حَتَّى يَقُولُوا لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ فَإِذَا فَعَلُوا ذَلِكَ حَرُمَ عَلَىَّ دِمَاؤُهُمْ وَأَمْوَالُهُمْ " .
Aws Narrated from:
We were sitting with the Prophet (ﷺ) and he was narrating to us and reminding us, when a man came and spoke privately to him. He said: ‘Take him away and kill him.’ When the man turned away, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) called him back and said: ‘Do you bear witness that none has the right to be worshiped but Allah?’ He said, ‘Yes.’ He said: ‘Then go and let him go, for I have been commanded to fight the people until they say: La ilaha illallah, then if they do that, their blood and wealth are forbidden to me.’”
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 3929In-book reference : Book 36, Hadith 3English translation : Vol. 5, Book 36, Hadith 3929
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 3929
This hadith about bearing witness to La ilaha illallah gives a clear scene. A man came and spoke privately to the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم). An order was first given concerning him. When the man turned away, the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) called him back and asked whether he bore witness that none has the right to be worshiped but Allah. When the man answered yes, the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) ordered that he be let go. He then explained that he was commanded to fight the people until they say La ilaha illallah, and when they do that, their blood and wealth are forbidden to him. The main teaching is direct: the spoken testimony was treated as a reason to stop and release the man in this report.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) asked the man about the testimony of faith before the matter continued.
- When the man affirmed La ilaha illallah, he was released.
- The hadith links the testimony with the protection of blood and wealth.
- The narration shows the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) acting on the outward statement given by the man.
