37/9. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4046 — Repentance Before Capture
Mentioning the Differences Reported by Talhah bin Musarrif and Mu'awiyah bin Salih from Y
Repentance Before Capture in the Verse of Muharabah
Sunan an-Nasai : 4046
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4046
أَخْبَرَنَا زَكَرِيَّا بْنُ يَحْيَى، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنِي عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ وَاقِدٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي قَالَ، حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ النَّحْوِيُّ، عَنْ عِكْرِمَةَ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، فِي قَوْلِهِ تَعَالَى { إِنَّمَا جَزَاءُ الَّذِينَ يُحَارِبُونَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ } الآيَةَ قَالَ نَزَلَتْ هَذِهِ الآيَةُ فِي الْمُشْرِكِينَ فَمَنْ تَابَ مِنْهُمْ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُقْدَرَ عَلَيْهِ لَمْ يَكُنْ عَلَيْهِ سَبِيلٌ وَلَيْسَتْ هَذِهِ الآيَةُ لِلرَّجُلِ الْمُسْلِمِ فَمَنْ قَتَلَ وَأَفْسَدَ فِي الأَرْضِ وَحَارَبَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ ثُمَّ لَحِقَ بِالْكُفَّارِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُقْدَرَ عَلَيْهِ لَمْ يَمْنَعْهُ ذَلِكَ أَنْ يُقَامَ فِيهِ الْحَدُّ الَّذِي أَصَابَ .
Ibn 'Abbas Narrated from:
Concerning the statement of Allah, the Most High: The recompense of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger. "This Verse was revealed concerning the idolators. Whoever among them repents before he is captured, you have no way against him. This Verse does not apply to the Muslims. Whoever kills, spreads mischief in the land, and wages war against Allah and His Messenger, then joins the disbelievers before he can be caught, there is nothing to prevent the Hadd punishment being carried out on him because of what he did."
[1] Al-Mā'idah 5:33.Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4046In-book reference : Book 37, Hadith 81English translation : Vol. 5, Book 37, Hadith 4051
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4046
This report records Ibn Abbas’s explanation of the verse about those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger. He says the verse was revealed concerning idolaters and that one who repented before being captured was not pursued under that ruling. He then distinguishes the case of a Muslim who kills, spreads corruption in the land, wages war, and joins the disbelievers before capture. According to the statement, escaping to them does not stop the prescribed punishment for what he already did. The core topic is repentance before capture and responsibility for serious crimes. The narration must be read exactly as given, because it draws a clear distinction between the two cases. According to Islamic scholars, applying such penalties belongs only to lawful authority.
What we learn from this hadith
- The report distinguishes repentance before capture from escape after serious crimes.
- Joining the disbelievers does not erase responsibility for earlier killing and corruption.
- The explanation carefully separates the idolater’s case from the Muslim offender’s case.
