37/9. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4035 — Punishment Identified as Connected to Kufr
Mentioning the Differences Reported by Talhah bin Musarrif and Mu'awiyah bin Salih from Y
Uraynah Hadith and Anas's Answer About Kufr
Sunan an-Nasai : 4035
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4035
أَخْبَرَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ وَهْبٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سَلَمَةَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو عَبْدِ الرَّحِيمِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي زَيْدُ بْنُ أَبِي أُنَيْسَةَ، عَنْ طَلْحَةَ بْنِ مُصَرِّفٍ، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، قَالَ قَدِمَ أَعْرَابٌ مِنْ عُرَيْنَةَ إِلَى نَبِيِّ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأَسْلَمُوا فَاجْتَوَوُا الْمَدِينَةَ حَتَّى اصْفَرَّتْ أَلْوَانُهُمْ وَعَظُمَتْ بُطُونُهُمْ فَبَعَثَ بِهِمْ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِلَى لِقَاحٍ لَهُ فَأَمَرَهُمْ أَنْ يَشْرَبُوا مِنْ أَلْبَانِهَا وَأَبْوَالِهَا حَتَّى صَحُّوا فَقَتَلُوا رُعَاتِهَا وَاسْتَاقُوا الإِبِلَ فَبَعَثَ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي طَلَبِهِمْ فَأُتِيَ بِهِمْ فَقَطَّعَ أَيْدِيَهُمْ وَأَرْجُلَهُمْ وَسَمَّرَ أَعْيُنَهُمْ . قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ لأَنَسٍ وَهُوَ يُحَدِّثُهُ هَذَا الْحَدِيثَ بِكُفْرٍ أَوْ بِذَنْبٍ قَالَ بِكُفْرٍ .
Anas bin Malik Narrated from:
Some Bedouin from 'Uraynah came to the Prophet of Allah [SAW] and accepted Islam, but the climate of Al-Madinah did not suit them; their skin turned yellow and their bellies became swollen. The Prophet of Allah sent them to some milk camels of his and told them to drink their milk and urine until they recovered. Then they killed their herdsmen and drove off the camels.The Prophet of Allah sent (men) after them and they were brought back, then he had their hands and feet cut off, and their eyes were branded. The Commander of the Believers, 'Abdul-Malik, said to Anas, when he was narrating this Hadith: "Was that (punishment) for Kufr or for sin?" He said: "For Kufr."
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4035In-book reference : Book 37, Hadith 70English translation : Vol. 5, Book 37, Hadith 4040
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4035
This Uraynah hadith describes Bedouins who accepted Islam but became sick in Madinah, with yellowed skin and swollen bellies. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم sent them to milk camels and told them to drink their milk and urine until they recovered. Afterward, they killed the herdsmen and drove away the camels. They were pursued, returned, and punished as the narration states. This version then records an important question from 'Abdul-Malik: was the punishment for Kufr or for sin? Anas answered, “For Kufr.” A careful explanation should preserve that exact answer while also noting that the event itself includes murder and theft in the same text. According to Islamic scholars, applying criminal penalties belongs to lawful authority and courts, not individuals. The narration records a specific case and Anas's stated interpretation.
What we learn from this hadith
- The men accepted Islam and later recovered from their illness.
- They then killed the herdsmen and took the camels.
- Anas answered that the punishment was for Kufr when 'Abdul-Malik asked him.
