45/29, 30: Chapter
Sunan an-Nasai 4785 — Choice Between Retaliation and Ransom
Should Diyah Be Taken From One Who Kills Deliberately, If The Heir Of The Victim Pardoned Him, And Doesn't Seek Retaliation?
Hadith About Qisas and Ransom Choice
Sunan an-Nasai : 4785
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4785
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَشْعَثَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُسْهِرٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ سَمَاعَةَ - قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا الأَوْزَاعِيُّ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي يَحْيَى، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو سَلَمَةَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " مَنْ قُتِلَ لَهُ قَتِيلٌ فَهُوَ بِخَيْرِ النَّظَرَيْنِ إِمَّا أَنْ يُقَادَ وَإِمَّا أَنْ يُفْدَى " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah said: 'If a person's relative is killed, he has the choice of two things: Either he may retaliate, or he may take the ransom.'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4785In-book reference : Book 45, Hadith 80English translation : Vol. 5, Book 45, Hadith 4789
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4785
This Hadith about Qisas and Diyah gives a clear choice to the relative of a killed person. Abu Hurairah reports that the Messenger of Allah said the person whose relative is killed has the choice of two things: either he may retaliate, or he may take the ransom. The report is short, so the explanation should not go beyond it. It shows that the matter is not left to anger alone. There is a defined choice between retaliation and ransom. For people searching “blood money in Islam hadith” or “hadith about Qisas,” this text gives one of the key wordings: the family has a choice. The Hadith places justice and compensation in a clear legal frame.
What we learn from this hadith
- The relative of the killed person is given a choice in the text.
- One option mentioned is retaliation.
- The other option mentioned is taking ransom or Diyah.
- The Hadith frames the response to killing through a defined legal choice.
