37/1. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 3979 — Do Not Kill One Who Says the Shahadah
The Prohibition of Bloodshed
Do Not Kill Him: The Protection of La Ilaha Illallah
Sunan an-Nasai : 3979
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 3979
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الْمُبَارَكِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا الأَسْوَدُ بْنُ عَامِرٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا إِسْرَائِيلُ، عَنْ سِمَاكٍ، عَنِ النُّعْمَانِ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ، قَالَ كُنَّا مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَجَاءَ رَجُلٌ فَسَارَّهُ فَقَالَ " اقْتُلُوهُ " . ثُمَّ قَالَ " أَيَشْهَدُ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ " . قَالَ نَعَمْ وَلَكِنَّمَا يَقُولُهَا تَعَوُّذًا . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لاَ تَقْتُلُوهُ فَإِنَّمَا أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أُقَاتِلَ النَّاسَ حَتَّى يَقُولُوا لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ فَإِذَا قَالُوهَا عَصَمُوا مِنِّي دِمَاءَهُمْ وَأَمْوَالَهُمْ إِلاَّ بِحَقِّهَا وَحِسَابُهُمْ عَلَى اللَّهِ " .
An-Nu'man bin Bashir Narrated from:
We were with the Messenger of Allah [SAW] and a man came and whispered to him. He said: 'Kill him.' Then he said: 'Does he bear witness to La ilaha illallah (there is none worthy of worship except Allah)?' He said: 'Yes, but he is only saying it to protect himself.' The Messenger of Allah [SAW] said: 'Do not kill him, for I have been commanded to fight the people until they say La ilaha illallah, and if they say it, their blood and their wealth are safe from me, except for a right that is due, and their reckoning will be with Allah.'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3979In-book reference : Book 37, Hadith 14English translation : Vol. 5, Book 37, Hadith 3984
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 3979
This hadith gives a direct example of how the shahadah affected an immediate decision. A man whispered something to the Prophet, who first said, "Kill him." He then asked whether the person bore witness to "La ilaha illallah." When told that he did, though it was claimed he said it only for protection, the Prophet ordered, "Do not kill him." He explained that when people say the declaration, their blood and wealth are protected except for a right that is due, and their reckoning is with Allah. The key lesson is that a claim about hidden motive did not cancel the outward declaration in this case. The report leaves the inner account to Allah and stops the killing on the basis stated.
What we learn from this hadith
- A person's outward shahadah must not be dismissed merely by guessing his motive.
- The Prophet stopped the killing after learning that the man said La ilaha illallah.
- Hidden intentions and final reckoning are left to Allah.
