A Jewess brought a poisoned sheep to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), and he ate of it. She was then brought to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) who asked her about it. She said: I intended to kill you. He said: Allah will not give you control over it ; or he said : over me. They (the Companions) said: Should we not kill her ? He said: No. He (Anas) said: I always found it in the uvula of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)
Hadith Text & Context
Narrated Anas ibn Malik: A Jewess brought a poisoned sheep to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), and he ate of it. She was then brought to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) who asked her about it. She said: I intended to kill you. He said: Allah will not give you control over it; or he said: over me. They (the Companions) said: Should we not kill her? He said: No. He (Anas) said: I always found it in the uvula of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).
Reference: Sunan Abi Dawud 4508 | Book: Types of Blood-Wit (Kitab Al-Diyat)
Legal Ruling & Divine Protection
The Prophet's statement "Allah will not give you control over it" demonstrates that no human can harm Allah's Messenger without divine permission. This establishes the principle that prophets operate under divine protection in matters essential to their mission.
The poison affected the Prophet physically (as evidenced by the lingering effect on his uvula), yet did not achieve its intended purpose of killing him - showing that while prophets experience human suffering, their mission remains divinely safeguarded.
Judicial Wisdom & Mercy
The Companions' question "Should we not kill her?" reflects the natural legal response to attempted murder. The Prophet's refusal demonstrates superior judicial wisdom - considering that the attempt failed and the perpetrator confessed voluntarily.
This ruling establishes important legal principles: distinction between attempted and completed crimes, consideration of actual harm caused, and the value of voluntary confession in judicial proceedings.
Miraculous Evidence
Anas' testimony about seeing the effect in the Prophet's uvula throughout his life serves as continuous physical evidence of this incident, authenticating the narrative and demonstrating that while divine protection prevented death, the physical effects remained as a sign.
This enduring physical marker served as a reminder to the Companions of Allah's protection over His Messenger and the reality of this historical event.