He reported God’s Messenger as saying, “God forbids you to swear by your fathers. If anyone swears he must swear by God, or keep silent.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

‘Abd ar-Rahman b. Samura reported God's Messenger as saying, “Do not swear by idols or by your fathers.” Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported the Prophet as saying that if anyone swears an oath in the course of which he says, “By al-Lat and al-‘Uzza”, he should say, “There is no god but God”; and that if anyone says to his friend, “Come and let me play for money with you”, he should pay sadaqa. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

He reported God’s Messenger as saying, "I swear by God that it is more sinful in God’s sight for one of you to persist in his oath regarding his family than to give for it the atonement God has imposed.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

He reported God’s Messenger as saying, "Your oath should be about something regarding which your companion will believe you.” Muslim transmitted it.

He reported God's Messenger as saying, "An oath is to be interpreted according to the intention of the one who takes it.” Muslim transmitted it.

‘A’isha said that the verse, "God will not take you to account for what is futile in your oaths” (Al-Qu’ran 2:225; 5:89) was sent down about such phrases as "No, by God,” and "Yes, by God.” Bukhari transmitted it. Sharh as-sunna has the wording of al-Masabih, saying that some transmitters traced it back to the Prophet on ‘A’isha’s authority.

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, "Do not swear by your fathers, or by your mothers, or by rivals (Cf. Al-Qur’an 2:22 etc. The reference is to idols or false gods) to God; and swear by God only when you are speaking the truth.” Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it.

Ibn Umar told that he heard God’s Messenger say, “He who swears by anyone but God is a polytheist.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri told that when God’s Messenger swore strongly he said, “No, by Him in whose hand is the soul of Abu Qasim.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Abu Huraira said that when God’s Messenger swore an oath it was, “No, and I ask forgiveness of God.” Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Umar reported God’s Messenger as stating that if anyone says when swearing an oath, “If God will”, he is not held accountable if he breaks it. Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Nasa’i, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it, but Tirmidhi mentioned a number who traced it no farther back than Ibn ‘Umar.

I said, “Messenger of God, tell me what I should do about a cousin of mine to whom I go and ask for something, but who neither gives me anything nor regards my kinship, then when he needs my help comes to me and asks for something, and I have sworn that I would not give him anything or regard his kinship.” He commanded me to do that which is better and make atonement for my oath. In Ibn Majah’s version he told that he said, “Messenger of God, my cousin comes to me and I swear that I will not give him anything or regard his kinship,” and that he replied, “Make atonement for your oath.” Nasa’i and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Abu Huraira and Ibn ‘Umar reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Do not make vows, for a vow has no effect against fate; it is only from the miserly that it is a means by which something is extracted.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

‘A’isha reported God’s Messenger as saying, “If anyone vows to obey God let him obey Him, but if anyone vows to disobey Him let him not disobey Him.” Bukhari transmitted it.

‘Imran b. Husain reported God's Messenger as saying, “A vow to do an act of disobedience must not be fulfilled, or one to do something over which one has no control.” Muslim transmitted it. A version has, “No vow must be taken to disobey God.”

‘Uqba b. ‘Amir reported God’s Messenger as saying, “The atonement for a vow is the same as for an oath.” Muslim transmitted it.

While the Prophet was preaching a man was standing, so he asked about him and was told that he was Abu Isra’il who had taken a vow to stand and not to sit, or go into the shade, or speak, but to fast. Thereupon the Prophet said, “Command him to speak, go into the shade, sit and complete his fast.” Bukhari transmitted it.

Anas said that the Prophet saw an old man being supported between his sons, and on asking what was the matter with him and being told that he had taken a vow to walk,* he said, “God most high has no need that this man should punish himself,” and he ordered him to ride. In a version by Muslim on Abu Huraira’s authority he said, “Ride, old man, for God is not in need of you and your vow.” *Mirqat, iii, 565 explains this as a vow to walk to the Ka’ba. (Bukhari and Muslim).

Ibn ‘Abbas told that Sa'd b. ‘Ubada asked the Prophet for a decision about a vow taken by his mother who had died before fulfilling it, and that he gave decision that he should fulfil it on her behalf. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Ka'b b. Malik told that he said, “Messenger of God, to make my repentance complete* I should divest myself of my property as sadaqa for God and His Messenger.” God's Messenger replied, “Retain some of your property, for that will be better for you.” So he said he would retain the portion he had at Khaibar. (Bukhari and Muslim.) This is part of a long tradition. * Mirqat, iii, 566 refers this to his withdrawal from the expedition to Tabuk without a valid reason. Pt. 10

‘A'isha reported God’s Messenger as saying, “No vow must be taken to do an act of disobedience, and the atonement for it is the same as for an oath.” Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi and Nasa’i transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s Messenger as saying, “If anyone takes a vow but does not name it, its atonement is the same as that for an oath; if anyone takes a vow to do an act of disobedience, its atonement is the same as that for an oath; if anyone takes a vow he is unable to fulfil, its atonement is the same as that for an oath; but if anyone takes a vow he is able to fulfil, he must do so.” Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it, but some traced it no farther back than Ibn ‘Abbas.

Thabit b. ad-Dahhak said that in the time of God's Messenger a man took a vow to slaughter camels at Buwana and came and told him. God’s Messenger asked whether the place contained any idol worshipped in pre-Islamic times and was told that it did not. He asked whether any pre-Islamic festival was observed there and was told that no such thing was observed. He then said to the man, “Fulfil your vow, for a vow to do an act of disobedience to God must not be fulfilled, neither must one to do something over which a human being has no control.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Sa'id b. al-Musayyib told that there were two brothers among the Ansar who shared an inheritance and that when one of them asked the other for the portion due to him he replied, “If you ask me again for the portion due to you, all my property will be devoted to the Ka'ba.”¹ ‘Umar, telling him that the Ka'ba did not need his property, ordered I him to make atonement for his oath and speak to his brother, for he had heard God’s Messenger say, “An oath or a vow to disobey the Lord, t or to break ties of relationship, or about something over which one has no control is not binding on you.” Abu Dawud transmitted it. 1. Fi ritaj al-ka'ba. This phrase which speaks of the door of the Ka'ba is used as a phrase for the Ka'ba itself. 2. Mirqat, iii, 570 says it means he is to speak to his brother about repeating his request.

a life for a life; a married man who commits fornication; and one who turns aside from his religion and abandons the community.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Ibn ‘Umar reported God’s Messenger as saying, “A believer will continue to find ample scope in his religion as long as he does not kill anyone unlawfully.” Bukhari transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. Mas'ud reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Shedding of blood will be the first matter about which judgment will be given on the day of resurrection.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

He reported God's Messenger as saying, “He who strangles himself will do so in hell, and he who thrusts a spear into himself will do so in hell.” Bukhari transmitted it.

Jundub b. ‘Abdallah reported God’s Messenger as saying that among those who lived before their time there was a man who had a wound and had so little patience to bear it that he took a knife with which he cut off his hand, but the blood did not cease to flow till he died. God most high said, “My servant has tried to outstrip me in taking his life, so I have excluded him from paradise.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Jabir said that when the Prophet emigrated to Medina at-Tufail b. ‘Amr ad-Dausi did so also accompanied by one of his people who became ill and had so little patience to bear it that he took some arrow heads of his with which he cut his knuckles, and his hands flowed with blood till he died. Then at-Tufail b. ‘Amr saw him in a dream with a fine appearance and saw him covering his hands, so he said to him, “What did your Lord do to you?" He replied, “He forgave me because of my emigration to His prophet.” He asked, “How is it that I see you covering your hands? He replied that it had been said to him, “We will not put right what you have spoilt." At-Tufail told this to the Prophet and he said, “O God, forgive his hands also." Muslim transmitted it.

He said that ar-Rubaiyi‘, paternal aunt of Anas b. Malik, broke the front tooth of a girl of the Ansar, and when they went to the Prophet he ordered retaliation to be taken. Then Anas b. an-Nadr, paternal uncle of Anas b. Malik, said, “No, by God, her front tooth will not be broken, Messenger of God." He replied, “Anas, God’s decree is retaliation." But the people were agreeable to accepting a fine, so God’s Messenger said, “Among God’s servants there are those who, if one adjured God, would consent to it." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Juhaifa said he asked ‘Ali whether he had any instruction not contained in the Qur’an and he replied, “By Him who split the seed and created the soul, I have nothing but what is in the Qur’an, except understanding which a man is given regarding His Book and what is in the document.” He asked him what the document contained, and he replied, “Blood wit, the setting free of a prisoner, and that a Muslim should not be killed for an infidel.” Bukhari transmitted it.

Abu ad-Darda’ reported God’s Messenger as saying, “A believer will continue to go on quickly and well* so long as he does not kill anyone unlawfully, but when he does so he will grow weary.” Abu Dawud transmitted it. *i.e. quick to obey God’s commands and observing well what is due to God and man.

'Abdallah b. ‘Amr reported the Prophet as saying, “The passing away of the world would mean less to God than the murder of a Muslim man.” Tirmidhi and Nasa’i transmitted it. Some traced it only to the Companion, and that is the soundest view. Ibn Majah transmitted it on the authority of al-Bara’ b. 'Azib.

Abu Sa'id and Abu Huraira reported God's Messenger as saying, “If the inhabitants of heaven and earth were to share in [shedding] the blood of a believer, God would overturn them in hell.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a gharib tradition.

Ibn ‘Abbas reported the Prophet as saying, “On the day of resurrection the slain will bring the slayer with his forelock and his head in his hand, his own jugular vein meanwhile dripping with blood, and he will say, ‘My Lord, he killed me’ till he brings him near the Throne.” Tirmidhi, Nasa’i and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

I adjure you by God. Are you aware that God’s Messenger said, “It is not lawful to kill a man who is a Muslim except for one of three reasons: fornication after marriage, or unbelief after accepting Islam, or wrongfully killing someone, for which he may be killed”? I swear by God that I have not committed fornication before or after the coming of Islam, or apostatised since I swore allegiance to God's Messenger, or killed anyone whom God has declared inviolate; so for what reason do you want to kill me? Tirmidhi, Nasa'i and Ibn Majah transmitted it, and Darimi gives the wording of the tradition.

Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s Messenger as saying, “The prescribed punishments are not to be inflicted in mosques and a father is not to be killed for a son.” Tirmidhi and Darimi transmitted it.

Al-Hasan, on Samura’s authority, quoted God’s Messenger as saying, “If anyone kills his slave we will kill him, and if anyone maims his slave we will maim him.” Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it, and Nasa’i added in another version, “If anyone castrates his slave we will castrate him.”

'Amr b. Shu'aib, on his father’s authority, said his grandfather reported God’s Messenger as saying, “If anyone kills a man deliberately he is to be handed over to the relatives of the one who has been killed. If they wish they may kill him, but if they wish they may accept blood wit, which is thirty she-camels in their fourth year, thirty in their fifth year, and forty pregnant she-camels. Any arrangement they make with him is for them to decide.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Abud Darda’ told that he heard God’s Messenger say, “No one will suffer any bodily injury and forgive it* without God raising him a degree for it and removing a sin from him.” Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it. * Literally "give it as sadaqa.”

Sa'id b. al-Musayyib told that ‘Umar b. al-Khattab killed five or seven people for one man whom they had killed treacherously, ‘Umar saying. “If the people of San'a’ had conspired against him I would have killed them all.” Malik transmitted it, and Bukhari transmitted something similar on the authority of Ibn ‘Umar.

Ibn ‘Abbas reported the Prophet as saying, “This and that are equal,” meaning the little finger and the thumb. Bukhari transmitted it.

Al-Mughira b. Shu'ba told that one of two women who were fellow-wives threw a stone or a tent-pole at the other causing an abortion, and God’s Messenger gave judgment that a male or female slave of the best quality be given as compensation for the abortion, and he appointed it to be paid by the woman’s relatives on the father's side. This is Tirmidhi’s version.* Tirmidhi * The principle mentioned in the preface is not observed here. Section 1 should have only traditions from Bukhari or Muslim, but here Tirmidhi’s version is given first. In Muslim’s version he said that a woman struck her fellow-wife with a tent-pole when she was pregnant and killed her, adding that one of them belonged to Lihyan. He said that God’s Messenger made the blood wit for the woman who was killed payable by the paternal relatives of the woman who killed her, and made a slave of the best quality the compensation for the child that had been in her womb. Muslim.

'Abdallah b. ‘Amr reported God's Messenger as saying, “The blood wit for unintentional murder which resembles intentional, such as is done with a whip and a stick, is a hundred camels, forty of which are pregnant.” Nasa'i, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it, and Abu Dawud transmitted it both on his authority and on that of Ibn ‘Umar. Sharh as-sunna has the wording in al-Masabih on the authority of Ibn ‘Umar.

“If anyone kills a believer wrongfully he must suffer retaliation for what his hand has done unless the relatives of the one who is killed are willing to do otherwise.” It also said that a man may be killed in retaliation for a woman; that the blood wit for a life is a hundred camels; that those who have gold should pay a thousand dinars; that for the complete cutting off of a nose the blood wit of a hundred camels must be paid; that full blood wit must be paid for the teeth, the lips, the testicles, the penis, the backbone and the eyes ; that for one foot half the blood wit must be paid, for a wound in the head a third of the blood wit, for a thrust which penetrates the body a third of the blood wit, for a head wound which removes a bone fifteen camels, for each finger and toe ten camels, and for tooth five camels. Nasa’i and Darimi transmitted it. In Malik’s version it says: For an eye fifty, for a hand fifty, for a foot fifty, and for a wound which lays bare the bone five.

‘Amr b. Shu'aib, on his father’s authority, told that his grandfather said God’s Messenger gave judgment that five camels be paid for every wound which lays bare a bone, and five camels for every tooth. Abu Dawud, Nasa’i and Darimi transmitted it, and Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted the first part.

Ibn ‘Abbas said that God’s Messenger treated the fingers and toes as equal. Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi transmitted it.

He reported God’s Messenger as saying, “The fingers and toes are equal,¹ the teeth are equal, the front tooth and the molar tooth are equal, this and that are equal.”² Abu Dawud transmitted it. 1. In this tradition only al-asabi' is given, whereas the asabi of the hands and the feet are specified in the preceding. It must obviously mean both fingers and toes here. 2. It has been suggested that "this and that” refers only to the little finger and the thumb (cf. the first tradition in the chapter), but it may here refer to the front tooth and the molar tooth mentioned immediately before it.