16. Retaliation

وَعَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسلم: «إِن النَّارَ لَا يُعَذِّبُ بِهَا إِلَّا اللَّهُ» . رَوَاهُ البُخَارِيّ

‘Abdallah b. ‘Abbas reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Only God punishes with fire.” Bukhari transmitted it.

وَعَنْ عَلِيٍّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: «سَيَخْرُجُ قَوْمٌ فِي آخِرِ الزَّمَانِ حُدَّاثُ الْأَسْنَانِ سُفَهَاءُ الْأَحْلَامِ يَقُولُونَ مِنْ خَيْرِ قَوْلِ الْبَرِيَّةِ لَا يُجَاوِزُ إِيمَانُهُمْ حَنَاجِرَهُمْ يَمْرُقُونَ مِنَ الدِّينِ كَمَا يَمْرُقُ السَّهْمُ مِنَ الرَّمِيَّةِ فَأَيْنَمَا لَقِيتُمُوهُمْ فَاقْتُلُوهُمْ فَإِنَّ فِي قَتْلِهِمْ أَجْرًا لمن قَتلهمْ يَوْم الْقِيَامَة»

‘Ali told that he heard God’s Messenger say, “In the last time people will come forth, young and foolish, speaking the finest words men speak, but their faith will not pass their throats. They will come out from the religion as an arrow does from the animal it is aimed at. Wherever you meet them kill them, for a reward for killing them will be given on the day of resurrection to those who kill them.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «يَكُونُ أُمَّتِي فِرْقَتَيْنِ فَيَخْرُجُ مِنْ بَيْنِهِمَا مَارِقَةٌ يَلِي قَتْلَهُمْ أولاهم بِالْحَقِّ» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported God’s Messenger as saying, “My people will be in two sections from among whom a seceding party will go out, and those who are nearest to the truth will undertake the killing of them.” Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ جَرِيرٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي حَجَّةِ الْوَدَاعِ: «لَا تَرْجِعُنَّ بَعْدِي كُفَّارًا يَضْرِبُ بَعْضُكُمْ رِقَاب بعض»

Jarir reported God’s Messenger as saying at the Farewell Pilgrimage, “You must never revert to infidelity after my death and cut off one another’s heads.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْ أَبِي بَكْرَةَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «إِذَا الْتَقَى الْمُسْلِمَانِ حَمَلَ أَحَدُهُمَا عَلَى أَخِيهِ السِّلَاحَ فَهُمَا فِي جُرُفِ جَهَنَّمَ فَإِذَا قَتَلَ أَحَدُهُمَا صَاحِبَهُ دَخَلَاهَا جَمِيعًا» . وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ عَنْهُ: قَالَ: «إِذَا الْتَقَى الْمُسْلِمَانِ بسيفهما فَالْقَاتِلُ وَالْمَقْتُولُ فِي النَّارِ» قُلْتُ: هَذَا الْقَاتِلُ فَمَا بَالُ الْمَقْتُولِ؟ قَالَ: «إِنَّهُ كَانَ حَرِيصًا عَلَى قَتْلِ صَاحِبِهِ»

Abu Bakra reported the Prophet as saying, “When two Muslims meet and one of them bears arms against his brother, they are both on the brink of hell, and if one of them kills the other they will both enter it.” In a version on Abu Bakra's authority he said, “When two Muslims meet with their swords, the one who kills and the one who is killed will go to hell." When he (i.e. Abu Bakr) remarked that one was the killer and asked what was wrong with the one who was killed, he replied, “He was eager to kill his companion." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَن أَنَسٍ قَالَ: قَدِمَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ نَفَرٌ مِنْ عُكْلٍ فَأَسْلَمُوا فَاجْتَوَوُا الْمَدِينَةَ فَأَمَرَهُمْ أَنْ يَأْتُوا إِبِلَ الصَّدَقَةِ فَيَشْرَبُوا مِنْ أَبْوَالِهَا وَأَلْبَانِهَا فَفَعَلُوا فَصَحُّوا فَارْتَدُّوا وَقَتَلُوا رُعَاتَهَا وَاسْتَاقُوا الْإِبِلَ فَبَعَثَ فِي آثَارِهِمْ فَأُتِيَ بِهِمْ فَقَطَعَ أَيْدِيَهُمْ وَأَرْجُلَهُمْ وَسَمَلَ أَعْيُنَهُمْ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَحْسِمْهُمْ حَتَّى مَاتُوا ". وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ: فَسَمَّرُوا أَعْيُنَهُمْ وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ: أَمَرَ بِمَسَامِيرَ فَأُحْمِيَتْ فَكَحَّلَهُمْ بِهَا وَطَرَحَهُمْ بِالْحَرَّةِ يَسْتَسْقُونَ فَمَا يُسْقَوْنَ حَتَّى مَاتُوا

Anas told that some people of ‘Ukl who had come to the Prophet and accepted Islam found Medina unhealthy, so he ordered them to go to the camels of the sadaqa and drink some of their urine and their milk. They did so and became well, after which they apostatised, killed the herdsmen and drove off the camels. So he sent people in pursuit of them, and when they were brought he had their hands and feet cut off and their eyes put out and left them to die without cauterising them to stop the flow of blood. A version says nails were driven into their eyes. Another says he ordered nails to be heated and after having them blinded with them he had them thrown out on the harra, and although they begged for water they were left to die without being given any. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

عَنْ عِمْرَانَ بْنِ حُصَيْنٍ قَالَ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَحُثُّنَا عَلَى الصَّدَقَةِ وَيَنْهَانَا عَنِ الْمُثْلَةِ. رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَرَوَاهُ النَّسَائِيّ عَن أنس

‘Imran b. Husain said God's Messenger used to urge them to give sadaqa and forbid them to mutilate anyone. Aba Dawud transmitted it and Nasa’i transmitted it on the authority of Anas.

وَعَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ: كُنَّا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي سَفَرٍ فَانْطَلَقَ لِحَاجَتِهِ فَرَأَيْنَا حُمْرَةً مَعَهَا فَرْخَانِ فَأَخَذْنَا فَرْخَيْهَا فَجَاءَتِ الْحُمْرَةُ فَجَعَلَتْ تَفْرُشُ فَجَاءَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ: «مَنْ فَجَعَ هَذِهِ بِوَلَدِهَا؟ رُدُّوا وَلَدَهَا إِلَيْهَا» . وَرَأَى قَرْيَةَ نَمْلٍ قَدْ حَرَّقْنَاهَا قَالَ: «مَنْ حَرَّقَ هَذِهِ؟» فَقُلْنَا: نَحْنُ قَالَ: «إِنَّهُ لَا يَنْبَغِي أَنْ يُعَذِّبَ بِالنَّارِ إِلاَّ ربُّ النَّار» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

When I we were on a journey with God’s Messenger and he had gone to relieve himself we saw a hummara* with two young ones and took the young ones, whereupon the hummara came and began to spread out its wings. Then when the Prophet came he said, “Who has pained this one by the loss of her young? Give her young ones back to her." He also saw an anthill which we had burned, and when he asked who had burned it and we replied that we had, he said, “It is not fitting that anyone but the Lord of the fire should punish with fire” Abu Dawud transmitted it. * A small bird like a sparrow, or a lark.

وَعَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ وَأَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: " سَيَكُونُ فِي أُمَّتِي اخْتِلَافٌ وَفُرْقَةٌ قَوْمٌ يُحسِنونَ القيلَ ويُسيئونَ الفِعلَ يقرؤون الْقُرْآنَ لَا يُجَاوِزُ تَرَاقِيَهُمْ يَمْرُقُونَ مِنَ الدِّينِ مُروقَ السَّهمِ فِي الرَّمِيَّةِ لَا يَرْجِعُونَ حَتَّى يَرْتَدَّ السَّهْمُ عَلَى فُوقِهِ هُمْ شَرُّ الْخَلْقِ وَالْخَلِيقَةِ طُوبَى لِمَنْ قَتَلَهُمْ وَقَتَلُوهُ يَدْعُونَ إِلَى كِتَابِ اللَّهِ وَلَيْسُوا منَّا فِي شيءٍ مَنْ قاتلَهم كَانَ أَوْلَى بِاللَّهِ مِنْهُمْ قَالُوا: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَا سِيمَاهُمْ؟ قَالَ: «التَّحْلِيقُ» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri and Anas b Malik reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Disagreement and division will arise among my people. Some will speak well but do evil; they will recite the Qur’an but it will go no farther than their throats; they will swerve from the religion as an arrow goes through the animal shot at and will not return till an arrow comes back to the place where it was strung. They are the worst of men and animals. Blessed are they who kill them and are killed by them! They summon people to God’s Book, but they have no part with us. He who fights with them is nearer to God than they.” God’s Messenger was asked what mark they had, and said it was shaving.* Abu Dawud transmitted it. * Tahliq is here explained as going to extremes in shaving the head and taking the hair out by the roots.

وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ قَالَتْ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لَا يَحِلُّ دَمُ امْرِئٍ مُسْلِمٍ يَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ إِلَّا بِإِحْدَى ثَلَاثٍ زِنا بعدَ إِحْصانٍ فإِنَّهُ يُرجَمُ ورجلٌ خرَجَ مُحارِباً للَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ فَإِنَّهُ يُقْتَلُ أَوْ يُصْلَبُ أَوْ يُنْفَى مِنَ الْأَرْضِ أَوْ يَقْتُلُ نَفْسًا فَيُقْتَلُ بِهَا» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

fornication after marriage, in which case he should be stoned; one who goes forth to fight with God and His Messenger,* in which case he should be killed, or crucified, or made a fugitive; or one which commits murder for which he is killed.” Abu Dawud transmitted it. * Mirqat iv. 53 refers this to such things as highway robbery.

وَعَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي لَيْلَى قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا أَصْحَابُ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا يَسِيرُونَ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَنَامَ رَجُلٌ مِنْهُمْ فَانْطَلَقَ بَعْضُهُمْ إِلَى حَبْلٍ مَعَه فَأَخذه فَفَزعَ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لَا يَحِلُّ لِمُسْلِمٍ أَنْ يُرَوِّعَ مُسْلِمًا» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

Ibn Abu Laila said he was told by Muhammad’s companions that during a journey with God’s Messenger while one of them was asleep another went to a rope he had with him and seized him,* with the result that he was startled. God’s Messenger then said, “It is not lawful for a Muslim to frighten another.” Abu Dawud transmitted it. * The meaning is that he tied the rope round him while he was asleep, presumably as a joke.

وَعَنْ أَبِي الدَّرْدَاءِ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «مَنْ أَخَذَ أَرْضًا بِجِزْيَتِهَا فَقَدِ اسْتَقَالَ هِجْرَتَهُ وَمَنْ نَزَعَ صَغَارَ كَافِرٍ مِنْ عُنُقِهِ فَجَعَلَهُ فِي عُنُقِهِ فَقَدْ وَلّى الإِسلامَ ظهرَه» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

Abud Darda’ reported God’s Messenger as saying, “He who gets land on which tax is due 1 has sought to rescind his emigration,2 and he who takes an infidel’s lowliness from his neck and puts it on his own 3 has turned his back on Islam.” Abu Dawud transmitted it. 1. The word for "tax" here is jizya. Eventually a distinction was made between jizya and kharaj, the former being used for poll-tax and the latter for land-tax. 2. i.e. to make himself like a dhimmi. 3. i.e. undertakes the responsibility of paying his tax for him.

وَعَنْ جَرِيرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَ: بَعَثَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ سَرِيَّةً إِلَى خَثْعَمَ فَاعْتَصَمَ نَاسٌ مِنْهُمْ بِالسُّجُودِ فَأَسْرَعَ فِيهِمُ الْقَتْلَ فَبَلَغَ ذَلِكَ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَأَمَرَ لَهُمْ بِنِصْفِ الْعَقْلِ وَقَالَ: «أَنَا بَرِيءٌ مِنْ كُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ مُقِيمٍ بَيْنَ أَظْهُرِ الْمُشْرِكِينَ» قَالُوا: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ لِمَ؟ قَالَ: «لَا تَتَرَاءَى نَارَاهُمَا» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ

Jarir b. ‘Abdillah told that when God’s Messenger sent an expedition to Khath'am some of them sought God’s protection by having recourse to prostration* and were quickly killed. When the Prophet heard that, he ordered half the blood wit to be paid for them, saying, “I am not responsible for any Muslim who stays among polytheists.” On being asked why that was, he replied, “Their fires should not be visible to one another.” Abu Dawud transmitted it. * Some members of Khath'am who were Muslims prostrated themselves in prayer to God thinking that this would make it clear to the attackers that they were Muslims.

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «الْإِيمَانُ قَيَّدَ الْفَتْكَ لَا يفتِكُ مُؤمنٌ» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

Abu Huraira reported the Prophet as saying, “Faith is an assurance of safety from being killed unawares. A believer does not kill another unawares.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَنْ جَرِيرٍ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «إِذَا أَبَقَ الْعَبْدُ إِلَى الشِّرْكِ فقد حلَّ دَمه» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

Jarir reported the Prophet as saying, “When a slave runs away and reverts to polytheism he may lawfully be killed.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَنْ عَلِيٍّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ أَنَّ يَهُودِيَّةً كَانَتْ تَشْتِمُ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَتَقَعُ فِيهِ فَخَنَقَهَا رَجُلٌ حَتَّى مَاتَتْ فَأَبْطَلَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ دَمَهَا. رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

‘Ali told that a Jewess who was reviling the Prophet and speaking evil of him was strangled to death by a man and the Prophet allowed no payment to be made for her death. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَنْ جُنْدُبٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «حَدُّ السَّاحِرِ ضَرْبُهُ بِالسَّيْفِ» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ

Jundub reported God’s Messenger as saying, “The punishment given to a magician is a stroke with the sword.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

عَن أُسَامَةَ بْنِ شَرِيكٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «أَيُّمَا رَجُلٍ خَرَجَ يُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ أُمَّتِي فَاضْرِبُوا عُنُقَهُ» . رَوَاهُ النَّسَائِيُّ

Usama b. Sharik reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Cut off the head of any man who goes out and causes division among my people.” Nasa’i transmitted it.

وَعَنْ شَرِيكِ بْنِ شِهَابٍ قَالَ: كُنْتُ أَتَمَنَّى أَنْ أَلْقَى رَجُلًا مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَسْأَلُهُ عَنِ الْخَوَارِجِ فَلَقِيْتُ أَبَا بَرْزَةَ فِي يَوْمِ عِيدٍ فِي نَفَرٍ مِنْ أَصْحَابِهِ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ: هَلْ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَذْكُرُ الْخَوَارِجَ؟ قَالَ: نعمْ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِأُذُنَيَّ وَرَأَيْتُهُ بِعَيْنَيَّ: أَتَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِمَالٍ فَقَسَمَهُ فَأَعْطَى مَنْ عَنْ يَمِينِهِ وَمَنْ عَنْ شِمَالِهِ وَلَمْ يُعْطِ مَنْ وَرَاءَهُ شَيْئًا. فَقَامَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ وَرَائِهِ فَقَالَ: يَا مُحَمَّدُ مَا عَدَلْتَ فِي الْقِسْمَةِ رَجُلٌ أَسْوَدُ مَطْمُومُ الشَّعْرِ عَلَيْهِ ثَوْبَانِ أَبْيَضَانِ فَغَضِبَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ غَضَبًا شَدِيدًا وَقَالَ: «وَاللَّهِ لَا تَجِدُونَ بَعْدِي رَجُلًا هُوَ أَعْدَلُ مِنِّي» ثُمَّ قَالَ: «يخرُجُ فِي آخرِ الزَّمانِ قومٌ كأنَّ هَذَا مِنْهُم يقرؤون الْقُرْآنَ لَا يُجَاوِزُ تَرَاقِيَهُمْ يَمْرُقُونَ مِنَ الْإِسْلَامِ كَمَا يَمْرُقُ السَّهْمُ مِنَ الرَّمِيَّةِ سِيمَاهُمُ التَّحْلِيقُ لَا يَزَالُونَ يَخْرُجُونَ حَتَّى يَخْرُجَ آخِرُهُمْ مَعَ الْمَسِيحِ الدَّجَّالِ فَإِذَا لَقِيتُمُوهُمْ هُمْ شَرُّ الْخَلْقِ والخليقة» . رَوَاهُ النَّسَائِيّ

I wanted to meet one of the Prophet’s companions to ask him about the Kharijites. Meeting Abu Barza al-Aslami along with some of his companions on a festival day, I asked him whether he had heard God’s Messenger mentioning the Kharijites, and he replied that he had both heard him with his ears and seen him with his eyes. He told that God’s Messenger was brought some property and divided it, giving something to those on his right and those on his left, but giving nothing to those who were behind him. One of those behind him, a black man whose hair was completely cut off and who was wearing two white garments, then said, "You have not divided justly, Muhammad.” God's Messenger became very angry and said, “I swear by God that after my death you will not find a man more just than I am,” adding, “At the end of time people looking like this man will come forth, reciting the Qur'an, but it will not pass their throats. They will swerve from Islam as an arrow passes through the game at which is it shot, and their distinguishing mark will be shaving. They will continue to come forth till the last of them comes forth with the antichrist. When you meet them they will be the worst of men and beasts.” Nasa’i transmitted it.

وَعَن أبي غالبٍ رأى أَبُو أُمامةَ رؤوساً مَنْصُوبَةً عَلَى دَرَجِ دِمَشْقَ فَقَالَ أَبُو أُمَامَةَ: «كِلَابُ النَّارِ شَرُّ قَتْلَى تَحْتَ أَدِيمِ السَّمَاءِ خَيْرُ قَتْلَى مَنْ قَتَلُوهُ» ثُمَّ قَرَأَ (يَوْمَ تبيَضُّ وُجوهٌ وتَسوَدُّ وُجوهٌ) الْآيَةَ قِيلَ لِأَبِي أُمَامَةَ: أَنْتَ سَمِعْتُ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ؟ قَالَ: لَوْ لَمْ أَسْمَعْهُ إِلَّا مَرَّةً أَوْ مَرَّتَيْنِ أوْ ثَلَاثًا حَتَّى عَدَّ سَبْعًا مَا حَدَّثْتُكُمُوهُ. رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَابْنُ مَاجَهْ وَقَالَ التِّرْمِذِيُّ: هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ

Abu Ghalib told that when Abu Umama saw some heads set up on the road to Damascus he said, “The dogs of hell, the worst people killed under the sky. The best who have been killed are those killed by them.” He then recited, “On the day when some faces will be white and some faces will be black (Al-Qur’an, 3:106). Abu Umama was asked whether he had heard it from God’s Messenger and replied, “If I had heard it only once, twice, or thrice (counting up to seven times) I would not have told you.” Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it, Tirmidhi saying this is a hasan tradition.