Law of Retaliation
Total Hadiths 144
Hadiths on Qisas and the Law of Retaliation
These authentic prophetic traditions outline the foundational principles of the law of retaliation (Qisas) and the framework of legal justice in Islam. The textual records demonstrate that if an intentional murder takes place, Islamic legal frameworks offer specific rights to the victim's closest relatives. According to Islamic scholars, the family of the deceased has the authority to choose between two fair options: seeking equal retaliation by having the perpetrator executed or accepting blood money (Diyah) as financial compensation. Ibn Abbas notes that this legal framework provides a merciful alternative to the older laws given to the children of Israel, where only physical retaliation was permitted. The texts demand that any collection of blood money must be handled in a reasonable manner accompanied by handsome gratitude. Furthermore, the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) strictly enforced this equality in punishment, as seen when he ordered the capital execution of a murderer who killed a young girl for her ornaments, ensuring that justice protects the innocent.
حَدَّثَنَا دَاوُدُ بْنُ رُشَيْدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا الْوَلِيدُ، عَنِ الأَوْزَاعِيِّ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ حِصْنًا، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أَبَا سَلَمَةَ، يُخْبِرُ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، رضى الله عنها عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّهُ قَالَ " عَلَى الْمُقْتَتِلِينَ أَنْ يَنْحَجِزُوا الأَوَّلَ فَالأَوَّلَ وَإِنْ كَانَتِ امْرَأَةً " . قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ بَلَغَنِي أَنَّ عَفْوَ النِّسَاءِ فِي الْقَتْلِ جَائِزٌ إِذَا كَانَتْ إِحْدَى الأَوْلِيَاءِ وَبَلَغَنِي عَنْ أَبِي عُبَيْدٍ فِي قَوْلِهِ " يَنْحَجِزُوا " . يَكُفُّوا عَنِ الْقَوَدِ .
Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu'minin: The Prophet (ﷺ) Said: The disputants should refrain from taking retaliation. The one who is nearer should forgive first and then the one who is next to him, even if (the one who forgives) were a woman. Abu Dawud said: I have been informed that forgiving by women in the case of murder is permissible if a woman were one of the heirs (of the slain). I have been told on the authority of Abu 'Ubaid about the meaning of the word yanhajizu, that is, they should refrain from retaliation.
[1] Meaning Al-Qāsim bin Sallām who had a famous book on Gharib (odd) words in Hadīth .Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 4538In-book reference : Book 41, Hadith 45English translation : Book 40, Hadith 4523
حَدَّثَنَا هَدَّابُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا هَمَّامٌ، حَدَّثَنَا قَتَادَةُ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، ح. وَحَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الأَعْلَى، حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدٌ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، وَفِي حَدِيثِ هَمَّامٍ قَدِمَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم رَهْطٌ مِنْ عُرَيْنَةَ وَفِي حَدِيثِ سَعِيدٍ مِنْ عُكْلٍ وَعُرَيْنَةَ . بِنَحْوِ حَدِيثِهِمْ .
This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Anas b. Malik through another chain of transmitters.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1671gIn-book reference : Book 28, Hadith 18USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 16, Hadith 4136
وَحَدَّثَنِي يَحْيَى بْنُ حَبِيبٍ الْحَارِثِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدٌ يَعْنِي ابْنَ الْحَارِثِ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو كُرَيْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ إِدْرِيسَ، كِلاَهُمَا عَنْ شُعْبَةَ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ . نَحْوَهُ وَفِي حَدِيثِ ابْنِ إِدْرِيسَ فَرَضَخَ رَأْسَهُ بَيْنَ حَجَرَيْنِ .
This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Shu'ba with the same chain of transmitters and in the hadith narrated on the authority of Ibn Idris (the words are): " He (commanded) to crush his head between two stones."
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1672bIn-book reference : Book 28, Hadith 21USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 16, Hadith 4139
وَحَدَّثَنِي إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَكْرٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ جُرَيْجٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي مَعْمَرٌ، عَنْ أَيُّوبَ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ مِثْلَهُ .
This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Ayyub with the same chain of transmitters.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1672dIn-book reference : Book 28, Hadith 23USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 16, Hadith 4141
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا جَامِعُ بْنُ مَطَرٍ الْحَبَطِيُّ، عَنْ عَلْقَمَةَ بْنِ وَائِلٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِمِثْلِهِ . قَالَ يَحْيَى وَهُوَ أَحْسَنُ مِنْهُ .
A similar report was narrated from 'Alqamah bin Wa'il from his father, from the Prophet. Yahya (one of the narrators) said: "He is better than him." [1]
[1] Meaning, Jâmi' bin Maṭar from whom he heard this version, is better as a narrator than 'Awf bin Abî Jamîlah, from whom he heard the previous narration.Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4725In-book reference : Book 45, Hadith 20English translation : Vol. 5, Book 45, Hadith 4729
حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ حُجْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ عَيَّاشٍ، حَدَّثَنَا الْمُثَنَّى بْنُ الصَّبَّاحِ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ شُعَيْبٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ جَدِّهِ، عَنْ سُرَاقَةَ بْنِ مَالِكِ بْنِ جُعْشُمٍ، قَالَ حَضَرْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُقِيدُ الأَبَ مِنِ ابْنِهِ وَلاَ يُقِيدُ الاِبْنَ مِنْ أَبِيهِ . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ لاَ نَعْرِفُهُ مِنْ حَدِيثِ سُرَاقَةَ إِلاَّ مِنْ هَذَا الْوَجْهِ وَلَيْسَ إِسْنَادُهُ بِصَحِيحٍ رَوَاهُ إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ عَيَّاشٍ عَنِ الْمُثَنَّى بْنِ الصَّبَّاحِ . وَالْمُثَنَّى بْنُ الصَّبَّاحِ يُضَعَّفُ فِي الْحَدِيثِ . وَقَدْ رَوَى هَذَا الْحَدِيثَ أَبُو خَالِدٍ الأَحْمَرُ عَنِ الْحَجَّاجِ بْنِ أَرْطَاةَ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ شُعَيْبٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ جَدِّهِ عَنْ عُمَرَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَقَدْ رُوِيَ هَذَا الْحَدِيثُ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ شُعَيْبٍ مُرْسَلاً وَهَذَا حَدِيثٌ فِيهِ اضْطِرَابٌ . وَالْعَمَلُ عَلَى هَذَا عِنْدَ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ أَنَّ الأَبَ إِذَا قَتَلَ ابْنَهُ لاَ يُقْتَلُ بِهِ وَإِذَا قَذَفَ ابْنَهُ لاَ يُحَدُّ .
Narrated Suraqah bin Malik bin [Ju'shum]: "The Messenger Of Allah (ﷺ) Judged That The Son Is To Suffer Retaliation For [Killing] His Father, But The Father Is Not To Suffer Retaliation For [Killing] His Son."
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1399In-book reference : Book 16, Hadith 15English translation : Vol. 1, Book 14, Hadith 1399
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو نُعَيْمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شَيْبَانُ، عَنْ يَحْيَى، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ خُزَاعَةَ، قَتَلُوا رَجُلاً. وَقَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ رَجَاءٍ حَدَّثَنَا حَرْبٌ عَنْ يَحْيَى حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو سَلَمَةَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ أَنَّهُ عَامَ فَتْحِ مَكَّةَ قَتَلَتْ خُزَاعَةُ رَجُلاً مِنْ بَنِي لَيْثٍ بِقَتِيلٍ لَهُمْ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ، فَقَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ " إِنَّ اللَّهَ حَبَسَ عَنْ مَكَّةَ الْفِيلَ وَسَلَّطَ عَلَيْهِمْ رَسُولَهُ وَالْمُؤْمِنِينَ، أَلاَ وَإِنَّهَا لَمْ تَحِلَّ لأَحَدٍ قَبْلِي، وَلاَ تَحِلُّ لأَحَدٍ بَعْدِي، أَلاَ وَإِنَّمَا أُحِلَّتْ لِي سَاعَةً مِنْ نَهَارٍ، أَلاَ وَإِنَّهَا سَاعَتِي هَذِهِ حَرَامٌ لاَ يُخْتَلَى شَوْكُهَا، وَلاَ يُعْضَدُ شَجَرُهَا، وَلاَ يَلْتَقِطُ سَاقِطَتَهَا إِلاَّ مُنْشِدٌ، وَمَنْ قُتِلَ لَهُ قَتِيلٌ فَهْوَ بِخَيْرِ النَّظَرَيْنِ إِمَّا يُودَى وَإِمَّا يُقَادُ ". فَقَامَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْيَمَنِ يُقَالُ لَهُ أَبُو شَاهٍ فَقَالَ اكْتُبْ لِي يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ. فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " اكْتُبُوا لأَبِي شَاهٍ ". ثُمَّ قَامَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِلاَّ الإِذْخِرَ، فَإِنَّمَا نَجْعَلُهُ فِي بُيُوتِنَا وَقُبُورِنَا. فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِلاَّ الإِذْخِرَ ". وَتَابَعَهُ عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ عَنْ شَيْبَانَ فِي الْفِيلِ، قَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ عَنْ أَبِي نُعَيْمٍ الْقَتْلَ. وَقَالَ عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ إِمَّا أَنْ يُقَادَ أَهْلُ الْقَتِيلِ.
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
In the year of the Conquest of Mecca, the tribe of Khuza`a killed a man from the tribe of Bam Laith in revenge for a killed person belonging to them in the Pre-Islamic Period of Ignorance. So Allah's Apostle got up saying, "Allah held back the (army having) elephants from Mecca, but He let His Apostle and the believers overpower the infidels (of Mecca).Beware! (Mecca is a sanctuary)! Verily! Fighting in Mecca was not permitted for anybody before me, nor will it be permitted for anybody after me; It was permitted for me only for a while (an hour or so) of that day. No doubt! It is at this moment a sanctuary; its thorny shrubs should not be uprooted; its trees should not be cut down; and its Luqata (fallen things) should not be picked up except by the one who would look for its owner. And if somebody is killed, his closest relative has the right to choose one of two things, i.e., either the Blood money or retaliation by having the killer killed."Then a man from Yemen, called Abu Shah, stood up and said, "Write that) for me, O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)!" Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said (to his companions), "Write that for Abu Shah." Then another man from Quraish got up, saying, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! Except Al- Idhkhir (a special kind of grass) as we use it in our houses and for graves." Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Except Al-idhkkir."
[1] Al-Idhkhīr is permitted to be cut in Makkah.Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 6880In-book reference : Book 87, Hadith 19USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 9, Book 83, Hadith 19
حَدَّثَنَا عَبَّاسُ بْنُ الْوَلِيدِ بْنِ مَزْيَدٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا الأَوْزَاعِيُّ، حَدَّثَنِي يَحْيَى، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو دَاوُدَ، حَدَّثَنَا حَرْبُ بْنُ شَدَّادٍ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ أَبِي كَثِيرٍ، حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو سَلَمَةَ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ لَمَّا فُتِحَتْ مَكَّةُ قَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ " مَنْ قُتِلَ لَهُ قَتِيلٌ فَهُوَ بِخَيْرِ النَّظَرَيْنِ إِمَّا أَنْ يُودَى أَوْ يُقَادَ " . فَقَامَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْيَمَنِ يُقَالُ لَهُ أَبُو شَاهٍ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ اكْتُبْ لِي - قَالَ الْعَبَّاسُ اكْتُبُوا لِي - فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " اكْتُبُوا لأَبِي شَاهٍ " . وَهَذَا لَفْظُ حَدِيثِ أَحْمَدَ . قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ اكْتُبُوا لِي يَعْنِي خُطْبَةَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
When Mecca was conquered, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) got up and said: If a relative of anyone is killed, he will have a choice between two : he (the slayer) will either pay the blood-wit or he will be killed. A man of the Yemen called Abu Shah stood up and said: Write for me, Messenger of Allah. The narrator al-'Abbas (b. al-Walid) said: Write to me, (you people). The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Write (you people), for Abu Shah. These are the wordings of the tradition of Ahmad. Abu Dawud said: Write (you people), for me, that is, the address of the Prophet (ﷺ).
[1] That is Ahmad bin Ibrāhīm, one of the two that narrated chains for this to the author.Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 4505In-book reference : Book 41, Hadith 12English translation : Book 40, Hadith 4490
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الدِّمَشْقِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا الْوَلِيدُ، حَدَّثَنَا الأَوْزَاعِيُّ، حَدَّثَنِي يَحْيَى بْنُ أَبِي كَثِيرٍ، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " مَنْ قُتِلَ لَهُ قَتِيلٌ فَهُوَ بِخَيْرِ النَّظَرَيْنِ إِمَّا أَنْ يَقْتُلَ وَإِمَّا أَنْ يُفْدَى " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “If a person's relative is killed, he has the choice of two things: He may either have the killer killed, or he may demand the blood money.”
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 2624In-book reference : Book 21, Hadith 10English translation : Vol. 3, Book 21, Hadith 2624
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَعَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَتَلَ رَجُلٌ عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَرُفِعَ ذَلِكَ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَدَفَعَهُ إِلَى وَلِيِّ الْمَقْتُولِ فَقَالَ الْقَاتِلُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهِ مَا أَرَدْتُ قَتْلَهُ . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لِلْوَلِيِّ " أَمَا إِنَّهُ إِنْ كَانَ صَادِقًا ثُمَّ قَتَلْتَهُ دَخَلْتَ النَّارَ " . قَالَ فَخَلَّى سَبِيلَهُ . قَالَ وَكَانَ مَكْتُوفًا بِنِسْعَةٍ فَخَرَجَ يَجُرُّ نِسْعَتَهُ فَسُمِّيَ ذَا النِّسْعَةِ .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
A man killed (another) during the time of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and was referred to the Prophet (ﷺ). He handed him over to the victim's next of kin, but the killer said: 'O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), by Allah I did not mean to kill him.' The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to the next of kin, 'If he is telling the truth and you kill him, you will go to Hell.' So he let him go. He had been tied with a rope, and he went out dragging his rope, so he became known as Dhan-Nis'ah (the one with the rope).
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 2690In-book reference : Book 21, Hadith 76English translation : Vol. 3, Book 21, Hadith 2690
