19/1. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1498c — Jealousy and Evidence
Chapter
Jealousy in Islam: Four Witnesses Before Action
Sahih Muslim : 1498c
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1498c
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدُ بْنُ مَخْلَدٍ، عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ بِلاَلٍ، حَدَّثَنِي سُهَيْلٌ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ سَعْدُ بْنُ عُبَادَةَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ لَوْ وَجَدْتُ مَعَ أَهْلِي رَجُلاً لَمْ أَمَسَّهُ حَتَّى آتِيَ بِأَرْبَعَةِ شُهَدَاءَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " نَعَمْ " . قَالَ كَلاَّ وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ إِنْ كُنْتُ لأُعَاجِلُهُ بِالسَّيْفِ قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ . قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " اسْمَعُوا إِلَى مَا يَقُولُ سَيِّدُكُمْ إِنَّهُ لَغَيُورٌ وَأَنَا أَغْيَرُ مِنْهُ وَاللَّهُ أَغْيَرُ مِنِّي " .
Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported that Sa'd b. Ubada (Allah be pleased with him) said: Messenger of Allah, if I were to find with my wife a man, should I not touch him before bringing four witnesses? Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: Yes. He said: By no means. By Him Who has sent you with the Truth, I would hasten with my sword to him before that. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: Listen to what your chief says. He is jealous of his honour, I am more jealous than he (is) and God is more jealous than I.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1498cIn-book reference : Book 19, Hadith 21USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 9, Hadith 3571
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1498c
This Hadith reports that Sa'd b. 'Ubada asked whether he should not touch a man found with his wife until he brought four witnesses. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said yes. Sa'd replied that he would hasten with his sword before that. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) then told the people to listen to their chief and said that Sa'd was jealous of his honor. He also said that he himself was more jealous, and Allah is more jealous than him. The Hadith does not turn jealousy into permission for violence. It keeps the need for four witnesses in place while also acknowledging the strong feeling of protective jealousy.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) confirmed the need for four witnesses.
- Strong jealousy was recognized, but evidence still remained necessary.
- The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) taught restraint even in a deeply emotional case.
- Allah's jealousy is mentioned in the Hadith as greater than human jealousy.
