12/47. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1064c — Refusing Rash Violence
The Khawarij and their attributes
Hadith About Restraint and Future Misguidance
Sahih Muslim : 1064c
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1064c
حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنْ عُمَارَةَ بْنِ الْقَعْقَاعِ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ قَالَ وَعَلْقَمَةُ بْنُ عُلاَثَةَ وَلَمْ يَذْكُرْ عَامِرَ بْنَ الطُّفَيْلِ وَقَالَ نَاتِئُ الْجَبْهَةِ وَلَمْ يَقُلْ نَاشِزُ . وَزَادَ فَقَامَ إِلَيْهِ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ - رضى الله عنه - فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَلاَ أَضْرِبُ عُنُقَهُ قَالَ " لاَ " . قَالَ ثُمَّ أَدْبَرَ فَقَامَ إِلَيْهِ خَالِدٌ سَيْفُ اللَّهِ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَلاَ أَضْرِبُ عُنُقَهُ قَالَ " لاَ " . فَقَالَ " إِنَّهُ سَيَخْرُجُ مِنْ ضِئْضِئِ هَذَا قَوْمٌ يَتْلُونَ كِتَابَ اللَّهِ لَيِّنًا رَطْبًا - وَقَالَ قَالَ عُمَارَةُ حَسِبْتُهُ قَالَ " لَئِنْ أَدْرَكْتُهُمْ لأَقْتُلَنَّهُمْ قَتْلَ ثَمُودَ " .
This hadith has been narrated through another chain of transmitters and (the narrator) made a mention of elevated forehead, but he made no mention of tucked-up loin cloth and made this addition: " There stood up 'Umar b. Khattab (Allah be pleased with him), and said: Should I not strike his neck? Upon this he said: No. Then he turned away, and Khalid the Sword of Allah stood up against him, and said: Prophet of Allah. shall I not strike off his neck? He said, No, and then said: A people would rise from his progeny who would recite the Book of Allah glibly and fluently. 'Umar said: I think he (the Holy Prophet) also said this: If I find them I would certainly kill them like Thamud."
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1064cIn-book reference : Book 12, Hadith 190USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 5, Hadith 2320
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1064c
This hadith about restraint is another transmitted version of the report. It mentions that Umar stood and asked if he should strike the man’s neck, and the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said no. Then Khalid, called the Sword of Allah in the narration, also asked, and again the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said no. After that, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم warned that from this man’s progeny would come people who recite the Book of Allah smoothly and fluently. The key message is not to rush into violent action without the Prophet’s command. The hadith also shows that fine speech and fluent recitation can still be joined with serious misguidance if true guidance does not enter the person.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم refused repeated requests to kill the man in that moment.
- Rash action was not allowed even when the man’s words were serious.
- Fluent recitation alone does not prove sound guidance.
- The warning was connected to a future group from that man’s progeny.
