45/4. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4713 — Qasamah and Witnessing
Mentioning The Different Wordings In The Report Of Sahl
Qasamah Hadith on Oaths When the Killing Was Not Witnessed
Sunan an-Nasai : 4713
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4713
أَخْبَرَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَبْدَةَ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا حَمَّادٌ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ بُشَيْرِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ، عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ أَبِي حَثْمَةَ، وَرَافِعِ بْنِ خَدِيجٍ، أَنَّهُمَا حَدَّثَاهُ أَنَّ مُحَيِّصَةَ بْنَ مَسْعُودٍ وَعَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ سَهْلٍ أَتَيَا خَيْبَرَ فِي حَاجَةٍ لَهُمَا فَتَفَرَّقَا فِي النَّخْلِ فَقُتِلَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ سَهْلٍ فَجَاءَ أَخُوهُ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ سَهْلٍ وَحُوَيِّصَةُ وَمُحَيِّصَةُ ابْنَا عَمِّهِ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَتَكَلَّمَ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ فِي أَمْرِ أَخِيهِ - وَهُوَ أَصْغَرُ مِنْهُمْ - فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " الْكُبْرَ لِيَبْدَأَ الأَكْبَرُ " . فَتَكَلَّمَا فِي أَمْرِ صَاحِبِهِمَا فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَذَكَرَ كَلِمَةً مَعْنَاهَا " يُقْسِمُ خَمْسُونَ مِنْكُمْ " . فَقَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَمْرٌ لَمْ نَشْهَدْهُ كَيْفَ نَحْلِفُ قَالَ " فَتُبَرِّئُكُمْ يَهُودُ بِأَيْمَانِ خَمْسِينَ مِنْهُمْ " . قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَوْمٌ كُفَّارٌ . فَوَدَاهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِنْ قِبَلِهِ . قَالَ سَهْلٌ فَدَخَلْتُ مِرْبَدًا لَهُمْ فَرَكَضَتْنِي نَاقَةٌ مِنْ تِلْكَ الإِبِلِ .
Sahl bin Ab Hathmah and Rafi bin Khadij Narrated from:
Muhayysah bin Mas'ud and 'Abdullah bin Sahl went to Khaibar for some need they had there, and they parted among the palm trees. 'Abdullah bin Sahl was killed, and 'Abdullah bin Sahl was killed, and his brother 'Abdur-Rahman bin Shl, and Huwayysah, and Musayysah, his paternal cousins, came to the Messenger of Allah.'Abdur-Rahan spoke about his brother's case, but he was the youngest of them, so the Messenger of Allah said: "Let the elders speak first." So they spoke about their companions, and the Messenger of Allah said: Let fifty of your swear an oath."The said: "O Messenger of Allah, it is something that we did not witness: how can we swear an oath?" He said: "Then let the Jews swear fifty oaths to their innocence." They said: "O Messenger of Allah, they area a disbelieving people," So the Messenger of Allah paid the blood money himself Sahl said: "I entered a Mirbad of theirs, and one of those camels kicked me."
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4713In-book reference : Book 45, Hadith 8English translation : Vol. 5, Book 45, Hadith 4717
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4713
This Qasamah hadith again tells the case of Muhayysah bin Mas'ud and 'Abdullah bin Sahl at Khaibar. After they separated among the palm trees, 'Abdullah was killed. His brother and relatives came to the Messenger of Allah. 'Abdur-Rahman spoke about his brother, but he was the youngest, so the Prophet told the elders to begin. The Prophet then referred to fifty people swearing an oath. They answered that they had not witnessed the matter, so how could they swear? He then mentioned the Jews swearing fifty oaths of innocence, but they objected to accepting those oaths. The Prophet then paid the blood money himself. The hadith highlights caution in oaths and respect for order in speech.
What we learn from this hadith
- The claimants did not want to swear about something they had not seen.
- The Prophet directed the elders to speak first in the case.
- The matter ended with the Prophet paying the blood money himself.
