37/29. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4126 — No One Bears a Relative's Crime
The Prohibition of Killing
Personal Accountability in Islam: No One Bears a Relative's Crime
Sunan an-Nasai : 4126
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4126
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رَافِعٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أَحْمَدَ الزُّبَيْرِيُّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا شَرِيكٌ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ أَبِي الضُّحَى، عَنْ مَسْرُوقٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لاَ تَرْجِعُوا بَعْدِي كُفَّارًا يَضْرِبُ بَعْضُكُمْ رِقَابَ بَعْضٍ لاَ يُؤْخَذُ الرَّجُلُ بِجِنَايَةِ أَبِيهِ وَلاَ جِنَايَةِ أَخِيهِ " . قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ هَذَا خَطَأٌ وَالصَّوَابُ مُرْسَلٌ .
Ibn 'Umar Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah [SAW] said: 'Do not revert to disbelievers after I am gone, striking the necks of one another (killing one another). No man is to be punished for the sins of his father, or for the sins of his brother.'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4126In-book reference : Book 37, Hadith 161English translation : Vol. 5, Book 37, Hadith 4131
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4126
This hadith on personal accountability brings together two clear teachings. First, the Messenger of Allah warns Muslims not to revert to disbelievers after him by striking the necks of one another, meaning killing one another. Second, he states that no man is to be punished for the sins of his father or brother. The text therefore rejects both mutual bloodshed and blame based only on family ties. A person is not made responsible for a relative's wrongdoing simply because they share a family bond. The narration also includes a note from Abu Abdur-Rahman stating that this chain is an error and that the correct form is Mursal. That note should be kept with the report when presenting it.
What we learn from this hadith
- Do not turn Muslim disputes into killing.
- A person is not punished for a father's sin.
- A person is not punished for a brother's sin.
- Preserve the report's own note about its chain.
