37/1. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 3977 — The Shahadah and Human Protection
The Prohibition of Bloodshed
The Shahadah, Protected Life, and Allah's Judgment
Sunan an-Nasai : 3977
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 3977
أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا يَعْلَى بْنُ عُبَيْدٍ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ أَبِي سُفْيَانَ، عَنْ جَابِرٍ، وَعَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالاَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أُقَاتِلَ النَّاسَ حَتَّى يَقُولُوا لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ فَإِذَا قَالُوهَا مَنَعُوا مِنِّي دِمَاءَهُمْ وَأَمْوَالَهُمْ إِلاَّ بِحَقِّهَا وَحِسَابُهُمْ عَلَى اللَّهِ " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah [SAW] said: 'I have been commanded to fight the people until they say La ilaha illallah. If they say it, then their blood and wealth are prohibited for me, except for a right that is due, and their reckoning will be with Allah.'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3977In-book reference : Book 37, Hadith 12English translation : Vol. 5, Book 37, Hadith 3982
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 3977
This narration gives a brief statement about the shahadah and outward protection. The Messenger of Allah says that he was commanded to fight the people until they said "La ilaha illallah." If they said it, their blood and wealth were prohibited to him except for a right that was due, and their reckoning was with Allah. The report draws a clear line between what people hear and act upon outwardly and the final judgment that belongs to Allah. It also preserves the exception for a due right, so the wording should not be reduced to only the first half. Since no further conditions or examples are included here, a faithful explanation should not supply them. The central message remains the declared faith, protected life and property, and Allah's final account.
What we learn from this hadith
- Outwardly spoken faith is treated seriously in the hadith.
- Protection covers both blood and wealth.
- The hidden and final account remains with Allah.
