37/17. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4077 — Abu Bakr Reviews and Rejects a Killing Offer
Mentioning the Different Reports From Al-A'mash in This Hadith
Abu Bakr's Detailed Lesson on Anger and Authority
Sunan an-Nasai : 4077
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4077
أَخْبَرَنِي أَبُو دَاوُدَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَفَّانُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ زُرَيْعٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يُونُسُ بْنُ عُبَيْدٍ، عَنْ حُمَيْدِ بْنِ هِلاَلٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مُطَرِّفِ بْنِ الشِّخِّيرِ، عَنْ أَبِي بَرْزَةَ الأَسْلَمِيِّ، أَنَّهُ قَالَ كُنَّا عِنْدَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ الصِّدِّيقِ فَغَضِبَ عَلَى رَجُلٍ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ فَاشْتَدَّ غَضَبُهُ عَلَيْهِ جِدًّا فَلَمَّا رَأَيْتُ ذَلِكَ قُلْتُ يَا خَلِيفَةَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أَضْرِبُ عُنُقَهُ فَلَمَّا ذَكَرْتُ الْقَتْلَ أَضْرَبَ عَنْ ذَلِكَ الْحَدِيثِ أَجْمَعَ إِلَى غَيْرِ ذَلِكَ مِنَ النَّحْوِ فَلَمَّا تَفَرَّقْنَا أَرْسَلَ إِلَىَّ فَقَالَ يَا أَبَا بَرْزَةَ مَا قُلْتَ وَنَسِيتُ الَّذِي قُلْتُ قُلْتُ ذَكِّرْنِيهِ . قَالَ أَمَا تَذْكُرُ مَا قُلْتَ قُلْتُ لاَ وَاللَّهِ . قَالَ أَرَأَيْتَ حِينَ رَأَيْتَنِي غَضِبْتُ عَلَى رَجُلٍ فَقُلْتَ أَضْرِبُ عُنُقَهُ يَا خَلِيفَةَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أَمَا تَذْكُرُ ذَلِكَ أَوَكُنْتَ فَاعِلاً ذَلِكَ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ وَاللَّهِ وَالآنَ إِنْ أَمَرْتَنِي فَعَلْتُ . قَالَ وَاللَّهِ مَا هِيَ لأَحَدٍ بَعْدَ مُحَمَّدٍ صلى الله عليه وسلم . قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ هَذَا الْحَدِيثُ أَحْسَنُ الأَحَادِيثِ وَأَجْوَدُهَا وَاللَّهُ تَعَالَى أَعْلَمُ .
Abu Barzah Al-Aslami Narrated from:
We were with Abu Bakr As-Siddiq, and he got angry with a man from among the Muslims, and became very angry indeed. When I saw that, I said: 'O Khalifah of the Messenger of Allah, shall I strike his neck?' When I mentioned killing him, he stopped being angry with him and changed the subject.When we parted, he sent for me and said: 'O Abu Barzah, what did you say?' I said: 'I have forgotten what I said; remind me.' He said: 'Do you not remember what you said?' I said: 'No, by Allah.' He said: 'Don't you remember, when you saw me angry with a man, and said, 'I will strike his neck O Khalifah of the Messenger of Allah?' Don't you remember that? Would you really have done that?' I said: 'Yes, by Allah, and if you tell me to do it now, I will do it.' He said: 'By Allah, that is not for anyone after Muhammad [SAW].'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4077In-book reference : Book 37, Hadith 112English translation : Vol. 5, Book 37, Hadith 4082
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4077
This longer narration gives the fullest account of the incident. Abu Bakr became very angry with a Muslim man, and Abu Barzah offered to strike the man's neck. The mention of killing ended Abu Bakr's anger and changed the subject. Later, Abu Bakr sent for Abu Barzah and carefully asked whether he truly meant the offer. Abu Barzah confirmed that he would have done it, even then, if ordered. Abu Bakr answered that this authority belonged to no one after Muhammad. The report shows reflection after anger, careful questioning, and a firm refusal to let personal loyalty or leadership become a reason for unlawful killing.
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.
