16/16. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 1412 — The Written Sheet of Ali
What Has Been Related About: The Muslim Is Not Killed For The Disbeliever
Hadith About Ali’s Written Sheet
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 1412
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 1412
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مَنِيعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا هُشَيْمٌ، أَنْبَأَنَا مُطَرِّفٌ، عَنِ الشَّعْبِيِّ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو جُحَيْفَةَ، قَالَ قُلْتُ لِعَلِيٍّ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ هَلْ عِنْدَكُمْ سَوْدَاءُ فِي بَيْضَاءَ لَيْسَ فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ قَالَ لاَ وَالَّذِي فَلَقَ الْحَبَّةَ وَبَرَأَ النَّسَمَةَ مَا عَلِمْتُهُ إِلاَّ فَهْمًا يُعْطِيهِ اللَّهُ رَجُلاً فِي الْقُرْآنِ وَمَا فِي الصَّحِيفَةِ . قُلْتُ وَمَا فِي الصَّحِيفَةِ قَالَ فِيهَا الْعَقْلُ وَفِكَاكُ الأَسِيرِ وَأَنْ لاَ يُقْتَلَ مُؤْمِنٌ بِكَافِرٍ . قَالَ وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى حَدِيثُ عَلِيٍّ حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ . وَالْعَمَلُ عَلَى هَذَا عِنْدَ بَعْضِ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ وَهُوَ قَوْلُ سُفْيَانَ الثَّوْرِيِّ وَمَالِكِ بْنِ أَنَسٍ وَالشَّافِعِيِّ وَأَحْمَدَ وَإِسْحَاقَ قَالُوا لاَ يُقْتَلُ مُؤْمِنٌ بِكَافِرٍ . وَقَالَ بَعْضُ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ يُقْتَلُ الْمُسْلِمُ بِالْمُعَاهِدِ . وَالْقَوْلُ الأَوَّلُ أَصَحُّ .
Abu Juhaifa Narrated from:
I Said To 'Ali: O Commander Of The Believers! Do You Have Anything Written That Is Not In Allah'S Book?' He Said: 'By The One Who Splits The Seed And Creates The Soul, I Have Not Learned From It Except What Understanding Of The Qur'An Allah Gives To A Man, And What Is In This Sheet Of Paper.' I Said: 'What Is In The Paper?' He Said: 'It Is The 'Aql, The (Ransom For) Release Of Captives, And The Judgement That No Believer Is Killed For A Disbeliever.'
[2] Meaning the regulations regarding blood-money.Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1412In-book reference : Book 16, Hadith 28English translation : Vol. 3, Book 14, Hadith 1412
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 1412
This Hadith about Ali’s written sheet begins with Abu Juhaifah asking Ali if he had anything written that was not in Allah’s Book. Ali answered by saying he only had the understanding of the Qur’an that Allah gives a person and what was in a sheet of paper. When asked what was in it, he said it contained the 'aql, the ransom for releasing captives, and the judgement that no believer is killed for a disbeliever. The Hadith is careful and limited. It does not claim hidden extra teachings. It points to Qur’anic understanding and a written note about specific legal matters.
What we learn from this hadith
- Ali denied having hidden material apart from what he mentioned.
- Understanding of the Qur’an is described as a gift Allah gives.
- The sheet contained legal matters such as 'aql and freeing captives.
- The Hadith mentions a judgement about a believer and disbeliever.
