29/7. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1705a — Delaying Punishment Due to Harm
Delaying the Hadd punishment in the case of women who have just given birth
Hudud Punishment Hadith: Delay When Harm Is Feared
Sahih Muslim : 1705a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1705a
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ أَبِي بَكْرٍ الْمُقَدَّمِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ، حَدَّثَنَا زَائِدَةُ، عَنِ السُّدِّيِّ، عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ عُبَيْدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، قَالَ خَطَبَ عَلِيٌّ فَقَالَ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ أَقِيمُوا عَلَى أَرِقَّائِكُمُ الْحَدَّ مَنْ أَحْصَنَ مِنْهُمْ وَمَنْ لَمْ يُحْصِنْ فَإِنَّ أَمَةً لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم زَنَتْ فَأَمَرَنِي أَنْ أَجْلِدَهَا فَإِذَا هِيَ حَدِيثُ عَهْدٍ بِنِفَاسٍ فَخَشِيتُ إِنْ أَنَا جَلَدْتُهَا أَنْ أَقْتُلَهَا فَذَكَرْتُ ذَلِكَ لِلنَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ " أَحْسَنْتَ " .
Abd al-Rahman Narrated from:
'Ali, while delivering the address said: O people, impose the prescribed punishment upon your slaves, those who are married and those not married, for a slave-woman belonging to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) had committed adultery, and he committed me to flog her. But she had recently given birth to a child and I was afraid that if I flogged her I might kill her. So I mentioned that to Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) and he said: You have done well.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1705aIn-book reference : Book 29, Hadith 53USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 17, Hadith 4224
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1705a
This hudud punishment hadith shows a clear concern for life while carrying out a prescribed punishment. Ali addressed the people and told them to impose the prescribed punishment upon their slaves, whether married or not married. He then mentioned a slave-woman of the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم who had committed adultery. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم instructed Ali to flog her, but Ali found that she had recently given birth. He feared that flogging her at that time might kill her. When he told the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, the Prophet said, “You have done well.” The meaning is direct from the text: the ruling was not ignored, but the timing was handled with care when serious harm was feared.
What we learn from this hadith
- Prescribed punishment is not treated as personal revenge.
- Ali delayed action because he feared the woman might die.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم approved Ali’s careful handling of the situation.
