46/2. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4876 — Suspicion
Making A Suspected thief Admit to His Crime By Beating and Detaining Him.
Hadith About Suspicion and Releasing the Accused
Sunan an-Nasai : 4876
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4876
أَخْبَرَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ سَعِيدِ بْنِ مَسْرُوقٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الْمُبَارَكِ، عَنْ مَعْمَرٍ، عَنْ بَهْزِ بْنِ حَكِيمٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ جَدِّهِ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم حَبَسَ رَجُلاً فِي تُهْمَةٍ ثُمَّ خَلَّى سَبِيلَهُ .
It was narrated from Bahz bin Hakim, from his father, from his grandfather, that: the Messenger of Allah detained a man who was under suspicion, and then he let him go. (Hssan)
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4876In-book reference : Book 46, Hadith 7English translation : Vol. 5, Book 46, Hadith 4880
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4876
This hadith about suspicion and release gives one added detail beyond the previous report. It says that the Messenger of Allah detained a man who was under suspicion, and then he let him go. The supplied text labels it Hasan. The message should be read with care. The man was detained because of suspicion, but he was also released. That matters because suspicion is not the same as a final judgment in the wording of the narration. The hadith about releasing the accused reminds readers that dealing with suspicion needs balance: concerns may be checked, but a person should not be treated as proven guilty just because a suspicion exists.
What we learn from this hadith
- The report mentions detention but also clearly mentions release.
- Suspicion alone is not presented as a final finding of guilt.
- The narration teaches care when dealing with an accused person.
