46/2. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4874 — Justice
Making A Suspected thief Admit to His Crime By Beating and Detaining Him.
Hadith About Justice, Suspicion, and Avoiding Forced Confession
Sunan an-Nasai : 4874
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4874
أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا بَقِيَّةُ بْنُ الْوَلِيدِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي صَفْوَانُ بْنُ عَمْرٍو، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَزْهَرُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الْحَرَازِيُّ، عَنِ النُّعْمَانِ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ، أَنَّهُ رَفَعَ إِلَيْهِ نَفَرٌ مِنَ الْكَلاَعِيِّينَ أَنَّ حَاكَةً سَرَقُوا مَتَاعًا فَحَبَسَهُمْ أَيَّامًا ثُمَّ خَلَّى سَبِيلَهُمْ فَأَتَوْهُ فَقَالُوا خَلَّيْتَ سَبِيلَ هَؤُلاَءِ بِلاَ امْتِحَانٍ وَلاَ ضَرْبٍ . فَقَالَ النُّعْمَانُ مَا شِئْتُمْ إِنْ شِئْتُمْ أَضْرِبْهُمْ فَإِنْ أَخْرَجَ اللَّهُ مَتَاعَكُمْ فَذَاكَ وَإِلاَّ أَخَذْتُ مِنْ ظُهُورِكُمْ مِثْلَهُ . قَالُوا هَذَا حُكْمُكَ . قَالَ هَذَا حُكْمُ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَرَسُولِهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم .
An-Nu'man bin Bashir Narrated from:
A group of the Kala'iyin complained to him about some people who had stolen some goods, shoe detained them for several days, and then he let them go. They came and said: "You let them go without any pressure (to make them admit to their crime) or beating?" An-Nu'man said: "What do you want? If you wish, I will beat them, and if Allah brings back your goods thereby, all well and good. Otherwise I will take retaliation from your backs (by beating you) likewise." They said: "is this your ruling?" He said: "This is the ruling of Allah and His Messenger "(Daif)
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4874In-book reference : Book 46, Hadith 5English translation : Vol. 5, Book 46, Hadith 4878
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4874
This hadith about justice and suspicion is labeled Daif in the supplied text, so the explanation should stay close to the report. A group complained to An-Nu’man bin Bashir about people who had stolen goods. He detained them for several days and then released them. When the complainants objected because there had been no pressure or beating, An-Nu’man replied that if he beat the suspects and the goods came back, that would be one matter; but if not, he would take the same retaliation from the complainants’ backs. The report highlights caution in accusation, pressure, and punishment. It warns that claims about theft should not become a reason for careless harm.
What we learn from this hadith
- The supplied report warns against harming suspects without clear outcome.
- Accusations about theft should not lead to careless beating.
- Justice requires care for both the claimant and the accused.
