37/12. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4050 — Warning Against Running Away
A Slave Who Runs Away to the Land of Shirk
Severe Warning in the Hadith About a Runaway Slave
Sunan an-Nasai : 4050
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4050
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ قُدَامَةَ، عَنْ جَرِيرٍ، عَنْ مُغِيرَةَ، عَنِ الشَّعْبِيِّ، قَالَ كَانَ جَرِيرٌ يُحَدِّثُ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِذَا أَبَقَ الْعَبْدُ لَمْ تُقْبَلْ لَهُ صَلاَةٌ وَإِنْ مَاتَ مَاتَ كَافِرًا " . وَأَبَقَ غُلاَمٌ لِجَرِيرٍ فَأَخَذَهُ فَضَرَبَ عُنُقَهُ .
Jarir Narrated from:
Jarir used to narrate from the Prophet [SAW]: "If a slave runs away, no Salah will be accepted from him, and if he dies he will die a disbeliever." A slave of Jarir's ran away, and he caught him and struck his neck (killing him).
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4050In-book reference : Book 37, Hadith 85English translation : Vol. 5, Book 37, Hadith 4055
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4050
This narration contains two parts. First, Jarir reports from the Prophet that when a slave runs away, his Salah is not accepted, and if he dies in that state, he dies a disbeliever. Second, the report says that one of Jarir’s own slaves ran away, was caught, and Jarir killed him. The explanation must keep these two parts separate: one is the prophetic statement as narrated by Jarir, and the other is Jarir’s later action. The text gives a very severe warning about remaining in a runaway state until death. It does not provide a full legal discussion of Jarir’s action. According to Islamic scholars, criminal punishment is not for private people to apply today; lawful authority and due process are required.
What we learn from this hadith
- The narration gives a severe warning about dying while still in a runaway state.
- It separately reports Jarir’s action toward his own fugitive slave.
- The two parts of the report should not be blended into one statement.
