19/1. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1493b — Li'an Report Confirmation
Chapter
Li'an Hadith with a Slight Wording Variation
Sahih Muslim : 1493b
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1493b
وَحَدَّثَنِيهِ عَلِيُّ بْنُ حُجْرٍ السَّعْدِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عِيسَى بْنُ يُونُسَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ بْنُ، أَبِي سُلَيْمَانَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ سَعِيدَ بْنَ جُبَيْرٍ، قَالَ سُئِلْتُ عَنِ الْمُتَلاَعِنَيْنِ، زَمَنَ مُصْعَبِ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ فَلَمْ أَدْرِ مَا أَقُولُ فَأَتَيْتُ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عُمَرَ فَقُلْتُ أَرَأَيْتَ الْمُتَلاَعِنَيْنِ أَيُفَرَّقُ بَيْنَهُمَا ثُمَّ ذَكَرَ بِمِثْلِ حَدِيثِ ابْنِ نُمَيْرٍ .
A hadith like this is narrated by Ibn Numair with a slight variation of words.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1493bIn-book reference : Book 19, Hadith 5USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 9, Hadith 3556
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1493b
This narration is a supporting report about li'an in Islam. It says that Sa'id b. Jubair was asked about the two people who invoked curses during the time of Mus'ab b. Zubair. He did not know what to say, so he went to 'Abdullah b. 'Umar and asked whether the two invokers of curses should be separated. The narration then says that Ibn 'Umar mentioned the same meaning as the earlier report of Ibn Numair. Since this Hadith is short, its main value is confirmation. It shows that the question of li'an and separation was treated as a serious legal and moral matter, and that Sa'id sought knowledge from Ibn 'Umar instead of answering without clarity.
What we learn from this hadith
- A person should avoid answering a serious religious question without knowledge.
- When unsure, one should ask someone known for knowledge.
- The narration supports the ruling of separation after li'an.
- Small wording differences can still carry the same main report.
