Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Dear Brother Assalaamualaikum

I would like guidance on how I should view the Hadith quoted as under_

Sunan Abu-Dawud Book 38, Number 4349

Narrated Ali ibn AbuTalib: A Jewess used to abuse the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) and disparage him. A man strangled her till she died. The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) declared that no recompense was payable for her blood.

I am sure it can be explained in and with proper context.

Please help me.

Jazak Allah Khairan.

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Kill one who abuses reviles Prophet (saws)

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Sunan Abu-Dawud Book 38, Number 4349
Narrated Ali ibn AbuTalib:
A Jewess used to abuse the Prophet (saws)and disparage him. A man strangled her till she died. The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) declared that no recompense was payable for her blood.

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 4348  Narrated by Abdullah Ibn Abbas

A blind man had a slave-girl who used to abuse the Prophet (saws) and disparage him. He forbade her but she did not stop. He rebuked her but she did not give up her habit. One night she began to slander the Prophet (saws) and abuse him. So he took a dagger, placed it on her belly, pressed it, and killed her. A child who came between her legs was smeared with the blood that was there. When the morning came, the Prophet (saws) was informed about it.  He assembled the people and said: ‘I adjure by Allah the man who has done this action and I adjure him by my right to him that he should stand up.’ Jumping over the necks of the people and trembling the blind man stood up.  He sat before the Prophet (saws) and said: ‘O Messenger of Allah (saws)! I am her master; she used to abuse you and disparage you. I forbade her, but she did not stop, and I rebuked her, but she did not abandon her habit. I have two sons like pearls from her, and she was my companion. Last night she began to abuse and disparage you. So I took a dagger, put it on her belly and pressed it till I killed her.’ Thereupon the Prophet (saws) said: ‘Oh be witness, no retaliation is payable for her blood.’

Regarding the above narrations which are indeed considered authentic, one must realize that the incident that is related above occurred in the believing nation of Madinah where a sovereign Islamic State was established with the Noble Prophet (saws) as its sole leader and judge, and under the guidance of Allah Subhanah, the Prophet (saws) as the sole leader and judge of a sovereign muslim nation accepted the witness of the person and forgave him. 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 53 Surah Najm verses 3-4:

3        Nor does he (Prophet Mohamed (saws)) say (aught) of (his own) desire.

4        It is no less than inspiration sent down to him.

In the hadees you quoted, it is correct that the Holy Prophet saws declared no diyyat to be paid for the slaying of the jewess who slandered him because the Prophet saws was a witness to the crime and according to the Shariah laws at that time the punishment for blasphemy and slander of the Holy Prophet saws was death.

Today if anybody defiles the character of the Holy Prophet (saws) we are not permitted to take the law into our hands and impart punishment. If this is done people could take advantage and much fitnah would be caused. The correct thing to do is report the same to the authorities if you are living in an Islamic country and let the law take its course. There are laws in non-Islamic countries too wherein one cannot abuse or defile the religion of others.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is only ones. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Members of Islamhelpline