37/26. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4097 — Stopping an Armed Attacker
The One Who Unsheathes His Sword and Starts to Strike the People With it
Hadith About an Armed Attacker Striking People
Sunan an-Nasai : 4097
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4097
أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا الْفَضْلُ بْنُ مُوسَى، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنِ ابْنِ طَاوُسٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنِ ابْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " مَنْ شَهَرَ سَيْفَهُ ثُمَّ وَضَعَهُ فَدَمُهُ هَدَرٌ " .
Ibn Az-Zubair Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah [SAW] said: "Whoever unsheathes his sword and starts to strike the people with it, it is permissible to shed his blood."
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4097In-book reference : Book 37, Hadith 132English translation : Vol. 5, Book 37, Hadith 4102
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4097
This hadith about an armed attacker concerns a person who unsheathes a sword and then begins striking people with it. The Messenger of Allah [SAW] states that the attacker’s blood is without protection. The wording is tied to an active and immediate act of violence: the weapon is drawn and used against people. It is not a statement about someone merely owning a weapon, carrying it peacefully, or making a vague threat. The key detail is that the person starts attacking others. The narration therefore centers on public protection from ongoing armed aggression. Its language is severe because the described person has moved from possession of a sword to actually striking people and endangering their lives.
What we learn from this hadith
- The report describes a person who openly draws a sword.
- The person then begins using it to strike people.
- The severe consequence is connected to active armed aggression.
- The wording does not address peaceful possession of a weapon.
