37/7. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4024 — The 'Ukl Crime and Its Punishment
The Meaning of the Saying of Allah, the Mighty and Sublime: "The Recompense of Those Who
The 'Ukl Hadith: Betrayal, Murder, Theft, and Public Justice
Sunan an-Nasai : 4024
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4024
أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ مَسْعُودٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ زُرَيْعٍ، عَنْ حَجَّاجٍ الصَّوَّافِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو رَجَاءٍ، مَوْلَى أَبِي قِلاَبَةَ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو قِلاَبَةَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَنَسُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ، أَنَّ نَفَرًا، مِنْ عُكْلٍ ثَمَانِيَةً قَدِمُوا عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَاسْتَوْخَمُوا الْمَدِينَةَ وَسَقِمَتْ أَجْسَامُهُمْ فَشَكَوْا ذَلِكَ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ " أَلاَ تَخْرُجُونَ مَعَ رَاعِينَا فِي إِبِلِهِ فَتُصِيبُوا مِنْ أَلْبَانِهَا وَأَبْوَالِهَا " . قَالُوا بَلَى . فَخَرَجُوا فَشَرِبُوا مِنْ أَلْبَانِهَا وَأَبْوَالِهَا فَصَحُّوا فَقَتَلُوا رَاعِيَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَبَعَثَ فَأَخَذُوهُمْ فَأُتِيَ بِهِمْ فَقَطَّعَ أَيْدِيَهُمْ وَأَرْجُلَهُمْ وَسَمَّرَ أَعْيُنَهُمْ وَنَبَذَهُمْ فِي الشَّمْسِ حَتَّى مَاتُوا .
Anas bin Malik Narrated from:
A group of eighty people from 'Ukl came to the Prophet [SAW], but the climate of Al-Madinah did not suit them and they fell sick. They complained about that to the Messenger of Allah [SAW] and he said: "Why don't you go out with our herdsmen and drink the milk and urine of the camels?" They said: "Yes (we will do that)." They went out and drank some of the (camels') milk and urine, and they recovered.Then they killed the herdsman of the Messenger of Allah [SAW], so he sent (men after them) and they caught them and brought them back. He had their hands and feet cut off and branded their eyes, and left them in the sun to die.
[1] Al-Mâ'idah 5:33.[1] Sammara or Samara means poking their eyes with hot rods until their sight had gone. See the commentary of As-Sindī. As for Samala , some versions have it, Al-Khattābī said: "Gouging out the eye, by whatever means." See Fath Al-Bārī (No. 233 of Al-Bukhārī .) We used "branded" for Sammara and Samara and "gouged" for Samala in the translation.Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4024In-book reference : Book 37, Hadith 59English translation : Vol. 5, Book 37, Hadith 4029
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4024
This Uraynah and 'Ukl hadith records a sequence of events. A group came to Madinah, became sick because the climate did not suit them, and complained to the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم. He directed them to go with the herdsmen and drink from the camels' milk and urine. They recovered, but then killed the Prophet's herdsman. Men were sent after them, they were captured, and the narration describes the severe punishment carried out upon them. The central topic is hirabah, meaning violent public crime involving murder and seizure of property. The text links the punishment to the acts reported in the story, not simply to illness or receiving treatment. According to Islamic scholars, criminal penalties are matters for lawful courts and rulers, never private revenge. This narration also should not be treated by itself as general medical advice.
What we learn from this hadith
- Kind treatment and help were followed by a grave act of betrayal.
- The group committed murder and took property after recovering.
- The punishment described was carried out after they were pursued and captured.
