37/17. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4076 — Abu Bakr Rebukes an Offer of Killing
Mentioning the Different Reports From Al-A'mash in This Hadith
Abu Bakr's Rebuke and the Limits of Anger
Sunan an-Nasai : 4076
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4076
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، عَنْ أَبِي دَاوُدَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ مُرَّةَ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا نَصْرٍ، يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ أَبِي بَرْزَةَ، قَالَ أَتَيْتُ عَلَى أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَقَدْ أَغْلَظَ لِرَجُلٍ فَرَدَّ عَلَيْهِ فَقُلْتُ أَلاَ أَضْرِبُ عُنُقَهُ فَانْتَهَرَنِي . فَقَالَ إِنَّهَا لَيْسَتْ لأَحَدٍ بَعْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم . قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ أَبُو نَصْرٍ حُمَيْدُ بْنُ هِلاَلٍ . وَرَوَاهُ عَنْهُ يُونُسُ بْنُ عُبَيْدٍ فَأَسْنَدَهُ .
Abu Barzah Narrated from:
I came to Abu Bakr when he had spoken harshly to a man who had answered back. I said: 'Shall I not strike his neck (kill him)?' He rebuked me, and said: 'That is not for anyone after the Messenger of Allah [SAW].'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4076In-book reference : Book 37, Hadith 111English translation : Vol. 5, Book 37, Hadith 4081
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4076
This narration says that Abu Bakr had spoken harshly to a man, and the man answered him back. Abu Barzah then offered to strike the man's neck. Abu Bakr rebuked him and stated that this was not for anyone after the Messenger of Allah. The text is important because it does not allow the honor of a leader to become a reason for killing someone who responds sharply. Abu Bakr accepts a clear limit on his own authority. The main lesson is not about defending status; it is about restraint, lawful boundaries, and refusing to turn a heated exchange into bloodshed. Personal anger is not a legal verdict.
What we learn from this hadith
- Personal anger does not make killing lawful.
- Abu Bakr rejected violent loyalty rather than accepting it.
- Leadership does not remove the need for legal limits.
- The narration distinguishes the Prophet's position from later rulers.
