A blind man had a slave-mother who used to abuse the Prophet (ﷺ) 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 (ﷺ) 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 (ﷺ) 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 man stood up.
He sat before the Prophet (ﷺ) and said: Messenger of Allah! 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 (ﷺ) said: Oh be witness, no retaliation is payable for her blood.
Hadith Text & Context
Narrated from the Prophet (ﷺ) concerning a blind man who killed his slave-mother after she persistently abused and disparaged the Prophet despite repeated warnings.
Legal Analysis
The Prophet's declaration "no retaliation is payable for her blood" establishes that killing one who persistently reviles the Prophet (sabb al-rasūl) falls under the prescribed punishments (hudūd).
Scholars note this ruling applies specifically to cases of slandering the Prophet himself, not general insults, and requires clear evidence of persistent blasphemy after warning.
Juridical Principles
This hadith demonstrates that protecting the honor of the Prophet (ﷺ) takes precedence over ordinary homicide laws when blasphemy is established.
The blind man's confession was accepted without punishment, indicating this action constitutes a religious obligation when proper conditions are met.
Scholarly Commentary
Classical scholars including Ibn Taymiyyah cite this as evidence that the punishment for blasphemy against the Prophet may be death, even without formal court proceedings in clear cases.
The ruling applies equally to Muslims and non-Muslims under Islamic jurisdiction who commit this offense, though contemporary scholars emphasize strict evidential requirements.