37/9. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4043 — Retaliation for the Herdsmen
Mentioning the Differences Reported by Talhah bin Musarrif and Mu'awiyah bin Salih from Y
Hadith on Retaliation for Blinding the Herdsmen
Sunan an-Nasai : 4043
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4043
أَخْبَرَنَا الْفَضْلُ بْنُ سَهْلٍ الأَعْرَجُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ غَيْلاَنَ، - ثِقَةٌ مَأْمُونٌ - قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ زُرَيْعٍ، عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ التَّيْمِيِّ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، قَالَ إِنَّمَا سَمَلَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَعْيُنَ أُولَئِكَ لأَنَّهُمْ سَمَلُوا أَعْيُنَ الرُّعَاةِ .
Anas Narrated from:
The Prophet [SAW] only had the eyes of those people gouged out, because they had gouged out the eyes of the herdsmen.
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4043In-book reference : Book 37, Hadith 78English translation : Vol. 5, Book 37, Hadith 4048
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4043
This hadith gives a specific reason for one part of the punishment imposed on the offenders. Anas states that the Prophet had their eyes gouged out because they had gouged out the eyes of the herdsmen. The main topic is legal retaliation, meaning that the reported punishment matched the injury they had deliberately caused. The narration is narrow and should remain narrow. It does not discuss every detail of the wider incident, nor does it create a general rule for personal revenge. It explains why that particular act occurred in this case. According to Islamic scholars, retaliation and criminal penalties require lawful authority, proof, and judgment. A person may not take the law into his or her own hands based on this report.
What we learn from this hadith
- The narration gives a direct reason for the eye punishment.
- The reported response matched the injury inflicted on the herdsmen.
- The text does not support personal revenge or uncontrolled retaliation.
