37/29. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4127 — Reject Bloodshed and Inherited Blame
The Prohibition of Killing
Individual Responsibility Hadith: Reject Bloodshed and Inherited Blame
Sunan an-Nasai : 4127
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4127
أَخْبَرَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ يَعْقُوبَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ يُونُسَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ عَيَّاشٍ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ مُسْلِمٍ، عَنْ مَسْرُوقٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لاَ تَرْجِعُوا بَعْدِي كُفَّارًا يَضْرِبُ بَعْضُكُمْ رِقَابَ بَعْضٍ وَلاَ يُؤْخَذُ الرَّجُلُ بِجَرِيرَةِ أَبِيهِ وَلاَ بِجَرِيرَةِ أَخِيهِ " .
`Abdullah 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 the sins of his brother.'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4127In-book reference : Book 37, Hadith 162English translation : Vol. 5, Book 37, Hadith 4132
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4127
This individual responsibility hadith gives two direct warnings. The Messenger of Allah says not to revert to disbelievers after him by striking the necks of one another, which the translation explains as killing one another. He then says that no man is to be punished for the sins of his father or brother. The first part protects the community from deadly internal conflict. The second part protects individuals from being charged with a relative's crime. The hadith does not allow family connection to replace personal responsibility. Each statement is brief, but together they call for justice: do not shed Muslim blood, and do not place one person's guilt on another member of the family.
What we learn from this hadith
- Muslims are warned against killing one another.
- A father's wrongdoing is not transferred to his son.
- A brother's wrongdoing is not transferred to his brother.
- Justice requires judging the person who committed the act.
