37/8. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4031 — Apostasy and Violent Flight
Mentioning the Differences Reported from Humaid, from Anas bin Malik
Uraynah Hadith on Apostasy and Violent Crime
Sunan an-Nasai : 4031
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4031
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ أَبِي عَدِيٍّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا حُمَيْدٌ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، قَالَ أَسْلَمَ أُنَاسٌ مِنْ عُرَيْنَةَ فَاجْتَوَوُا الْمَدِينَةَ فَقَالَ لَهُمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لَوْ خَرَجْتُمْ إِلَى ذَوْدٍ لَنَا فَشَرِبْتُمْ مِنْ أَلْبَانِهَا " . قَالَ حُمَيْدٌ وَقَالَ قَتَادَةُ عَنْ أَنَسٍ " وَأَبْوَالِهَا " . فَفَعَلُوا فَلَمَّا صَحُّوا كَفَرُوا بَعْدَ إِسْلاَمِهِمْ وَقَتَلُوا رَاعِيَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مُؤْمِنًا وَاسْتَاقُوا ذَوْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَهَرَبُوا مُحَارِبِينَ فَأَرْسَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مَنْ أَتَى بِهِمْ فَأُخِذُوا فَقَطَّعَ أَيْدِيَهُمْ وَأَرْجُلَهُمْ وَسَمَّرَ أَعْيُنَهُمْ وَتَرَكَهُمْ فِي الْحَرَّةِ حَتَّى مَاتُوا .
Anas Narrated from:
Some people from 'Uraynah became Muslim, but the climate of Al-Madinah did not suit them. The Messenger of Allah [SAW] said to them: 'Why don't you go out to some camels of ours and drink their milk?'" - (one of the narrators) Humaid said: "And Qatadah said, narrating from Anas: 'And their urine.'" - "So they did that, and when they recovered they reverted to disbelief after their Islam, killed the herdsman of the Messenger of Allah [SAW], who was a believer, drove off the camels of the Messenger of Allah [SAW], and fled as those at war.The Messenger of Allah [SAW] sent someone to bring them and they were caught. He had their hands and feet cut off and their eyes branded, then he left them in Al-Harrah until they died."
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4031In-book reference : Book 37, Hadith 66English translation : Vol. 5, Book 37, Hadith 4036
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4031
This hadith about the people of 'Uraynah states that they became Muslim but found the climate of Madinah unsuitable. The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم told them to go to some camels and drink their milk; Qatadah's narration also mentions urine. After they recovered, they returned to disbelief, killed the Prophet's believing herdsman, drove away the camels, and fled as combatants. They were later captured, punished, and left in Al-Harrah until they died. The core subject is violent public crime joined with apostasy and theft. The narration does not present a simple case of someone privately changing belief; it describes murder and hostile seizure of property as well. According to Islamic scholars, the legal response in such cases belongs to legitimate authority and formal judgment. It is not permission for private retaliation or mob action.
What we learn from this hadith
- The group had accepted Islam before later returning to disbelief.
- They murdered a believing herdsman and fled with the camels as combatants.
- They were captured before the punishment recorded in the hadith.
