37/23. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4094 — Protecting Wealth, Life, and Family
The One Who is Killed Defending His Family
Hadith on Defending Wealth, Life, and Family
Sunan an-Nasai : 4094
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4094
أَخْبَرَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عَلِيٍّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ مَهْدِيٍّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي عُبَيْدَةَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنْ طَلْحَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَوْفٍ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ زَيْدٍ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " مَنْ قَاتَلَ دُونَ مَالِهِ فَقُتِلَ فَهُوَ شَهِيدٌ وَمَنْ قَاتَلَ دُونَ دَمِهِ فَهُوَ شَهِيدٌ وَمَنْ قَاتَلَ دُونَ أَهْلِهِ فَهُوَ شَهِيدٌ " .
Sa'eed bin Zaid Narrated from:
The Prophet [SAW] said: "Whoever fights to protect his wealth and is killed, he is a martyr. Whoever fights to protect himself, he is a martyr. Whoever fights to protect his family is a martyr."
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4094In-book reference : Book 37, Hadith 129English translation : Vol. 5, Book 37, Hadith 4099
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4094
This hadith on defending wealth, life, and family broadens the subject beyond property alone. The Prophet [SAW] states that a person who fights to protect his wealth and is killed is a martyr. He then gives the same honored status to one who fights to protect his own life and to one who fights to protect his family. Each case is defensive. The person is responding to a threat against property, personal safety, or loved ones. The text does not speak about attacking others without right. It highlights the seriousness of these protected interests and names martyrdom for the person killed while defending them. The wording supports a balanced understanding centered on resistance to aggression, not the pursuit of conflict.
What we learn from this hadith
- Wealth may be defended when it is attacked.
- A person who is killed defending his own life is called a martyr.
- A person who is killed defending his family is called a martyr.
- All three examples describe defense against a threat.
