37/5. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4019 — Uthman's Defense of His Right to Life
Mentioning What Circumstances Allow Shedding the Blood of a Muslim
Uthman Under Siege: The Sanctity of Muslim Life
Sunan an-Nasai : 4019
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4019
أَخْبَرَنِي إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ يَعْقُوبَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عِيسَى، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو أُمَامَةَ بْنُ سَهْلٍ، وَعَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَامِرِ بْنِ رَبِيعَةَ، قَالاَ كُنَّا مَعَ عُثْمَانَ وَهُوَ مَحْصُورٌ - وَكُنَّا إِذَا دَخَلْنَا مَدْخَلاً نَسْمَعُ كَلاَمَ مَنْ بِالْبَلاَطِ - فَدَخَلَ عُثْمَانُ يَوْمًا ثُمَّ خَرَجَ فَقَالَ إِنَّهُمْ لَيَتَوَاعَدُونِي بِالْقَتْلِ . قُلْنَا يَكْفِيكَهُمُ اللَّهُ . قَالَ فَلِمَ يَقْتُلُونِّي سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " لاَ يَحِلُّ دَمُ امْرِئٍ مُسْلِمٍ إِلاَّ بِإِحْدَى ثَلاَثٍ رَجُلٌ كَفَرَ بَعْدَ إِسْلاَمِهِ أَوْ زَنَى بَعْدَ إِحْصَانِهِ أَوْ قَتَلَ نَفْسًا بِغَيْرِ نَفْسٍ " . فَوَاللَّهِ مَا زَنَيْتُ فِي جَاهِلِيَّةٍ وَلاَ إِسْلاَمٍ وَلاَ تَمَنَّيْتُ أَنَّ لِي بِدِينِي بَدَلاً مُنْذُ هَدَانِي اللَّهُ وَلاَ قَتَلْتُ نَفْسًا فَلِمَ يَقْتُلُونَنِي
Abu Umamah bin Sahl and 'Abdullah bin 'Amir bin Rabi'ah Narrated from:
We were with 'Uthman when he was under siege and we could hear what was said from Al-Balat. 'Uthman came in one day, then he came out, and said: 'They are threatening to kill me.' We said: 'Allah will suffice you against them.'He said: 'Why would they kill me? I heard the Messenger of Allah [SAW] say: It is not permissible to shed the blood of a Muslim except in one of three cases: A man who reverts to Kufr after becoming Muslim, or commits adultery after being married, or one who kills a soul unlawfully. By Allah, I did not commit adultery during Jahiliyyah or in Islam, I never wished to follow any other religion since Allah guided me, and I have never killed anyone, so why do they want to kill me?'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4019In-book reference : Book 37, Hadith 54English translation : Vol. 5, Book 37, Hadith 4024
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4019
This hadith places the sanctity of Muslim life in a painful real event. While 'Uthman was under siege, he said that people were threatening to kill him. He then cited the Prophet's teaching that a Muslim's blood is not lawful except in three cases: returning to disbelief after Islam, committing adultery after marriage or killing a soul unlawfully. 'Uthman swore that he had not committed adultery in the time before Islam or after it, had never wished to exchange his religion after Allah guided him and had never killed anyone. He therefore asked why they wanted to kill him. The report is a direct defense against unlawful bloodshed. It shows him measuring the threats against the three stated cases and declaring that none applied to him.
What we learn from this hadith
- 'Uthman appealed to the Prophet's teaching when his life was threatened.
- He stated that he had not committed any of the three acts named in the hadith.
- The narration presents his threatened killing as lacking the stated grounds.
- A person's blood cannot be treated as lawful merely because a hostile group demands it.
