37/14. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4057 — Three Cases Mentioned by Uthman
The Ruling on Apostates
Uthman’s Hadith on Three Exceptions to Protected Muslim Blood
Sunan an-Nasai : 4057
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4057
أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو الأَزْهَرِ، أَحْمَدُ بْنُ الأَزْهَرِ النَّيْسَابُورِيُّ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ الرَّازِيُّ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا الْمُغِيرَةُ بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ، عَنْ مَطَرٍ الْوَرَّاقِ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، أَنَّ عُثْمَانَ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " لاَ يَحِلُّ دَمُ امْرِئٍ مُسْلِمٍ إِلاَّ بِإِحْدَى ثَلاَثٍ رَجُلٌ زَنَى بَعْدَ إِحْصَانِهِ فَعَلَيْهِ الرَّجْمُ أَوْ قَتَلَ عَمْدًا فَعَلَيْهِ الْقَوَدُ أَوِ ارْتَدَّ بَعْدَ إِسْلاَمِهِ فَعَلَيْهِ الْقَتْلُ " .
Ibn 'Umar Narrated from:
'Uthman said: "I heard the Messenger of Allah [SAW] say: 'It is not permissible to shed the blood of a Muslim except in three cases: A man who commits adultery after having married; or one who kills intentionally, in which case he deserves retaliation; or one who apostatizes after having become Muslim, in which case he deserves to be killed.'"
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4057In-book reference : Book 37, Hadith 92English translation : Vol. 5, Book 37, Hadith 4062
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4057
In this hadith, Uthman reports hearing the Messenger of Allah say that a Muslim’s blood is not lawful except in three cases. The cases listed are adultery after marriage, intentional killing that brings retaliation, and apostasy after Islam. The opening rule protects Muslim life, while the exceptions are stated as formal legal matters. The narration does not tell ordinary people to carry out punishment. According to Islamic scholars, these rulings require lawful authority, strict evidence, and judicial process. This point is especially important because the hadith concerns life and death. The text should also be read without adding cases that are not named. Its core search topic is three cases where Muslim blood is lawful, along with sanctity of life and Uthman hadith.
What we learn from this hadith
- The basic rule in the hadith is protection of Muslim life.
- Three stated legal exceptions are named and no others are added.
- Intentional murder is linked with retaliation in the report.
