17/2. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 1424 — Averting Legal Penalties
What Has Been Related About Averting Legal Punishments
Hadith About Averting Legal Penalties in Islam
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 1424
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 1424
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ الأَسْوَدِ أَبُو عَمْرٍو الْبَصْرِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رَبِيعَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ زِيَادٍ الدِّمَشْقِيُّ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " ادْرَءُوا الْحُدُودَ عَنِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ فَإِنْ كَانَ لَهُ مَخْرَجٌ فَخَلُّوا سَبِيلَهُ فَإِنَّ الإِمَامَ أَنْ يُخْطِئَ فِي الْعَفْوِ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَنْ يُخْطِئَ فِي الْعُقُوبَةِ " .حَدَّثَنَا هَنَّادٌ، حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ بْنِ زِيَادٍ، نَحْوَ حَدِيثِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ رَبِيعَةَ وَلَمْ يَرْفَعْهُ . قَالَ وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، وَعَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو، . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى حَدِيثُ عَائِشَةَ لاَ نَعْرِفُهُ مَرْفُوعًا إِلاَّ مِنْ حَدِيثِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ رَبِيعَةَ عَنْ يَزِيدَ بْنِ زِيَادٍ الدِّمَشْقِيِّ عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ عَنْ عُرْوَةَ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم . وَرَوَاهُ وَكِيعٌ عَنْ يَزِيدَ بْنِ زِيَادٍ نَحْوَهُ وَلَمْ يَرْفَعْهُ وَرِوَايَةُ وَكِيعٍ أَصَحُّ . وَقَدْ رُوِيَ نَحْوُ هَذَا عَنْ غَيْرِ وَاحِدٍ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّهُمْ قَالُوا مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ . وَيَزِيدُ بْنُ زِيَادٍ الدِّمَشْقِيُّ ضَعِيفٌ فِي الْحَدِيثِ وَيَزِيدُ بْنُ أَبِي زِيَادٍ الْكُوفِيُّ أَثْبَتُ مِنْ هَذَا وَأَقْدَمُ .
A'isha Narrated from:
The Messenger Of Allah (ﷺ): "Avert The Legal Penalties From The Muslims As Much As Possible, If He Has A Way Out Then Leave Him To His Way, For If The Imam Makes A Mistake In Forgiving It Would Be Better Than Making Mistake In Punishment."(Another Chain) Which Is Similar To The Narration Of Muhammad Bin Rabi'Ah (A Narrator In No.1424) But He Did Not Narrate It In Marfu' Form.
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1424In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 2,3English translation : Vol. 3, Book 15, Hadith 1424
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 1424
This hadith about averting legal penalties gives a careful message about judgment. The narration says to avert legal penalties from Muslims as much as possible. If a person has a way out, he should be left to that way. It also says that if the imam makes a mistake in forgiving, that is better than making a mistake in punishment. The text points to caution, mercy, and care before a penalty is carried out. The narration also includes discussion about its chain and mentions that another narration was not raised in marfu form. So the explanation should stay close to the wording and not add extra rulings beyond it.
What we learn from this hadith
- The text urges caution before applying legal penalties.
- If a valid way out exists, the person is to be left to that way.
- A mistake in forgiving is described as better than a mistake in punishment.
- The narration itself includes scholarly notes about its chain.
