The Book of Oaths (qasamah), Retaliation and Blood Money - Sunan an-Nasa'i 4838

"We came to the Messenger of Allah when he was speaking to the people, and some people stood up and said: 'O Messenger of Allah, these are Banu Tha'labah who killed so and so.' The Messenger of Allah said: 'No soul is affected by the sin of another.'"

Commentary on the Hadith

This noble hadith establishes a fundamental principle of Islamic jurisprudence: individual responsibility in matters of sin and crime. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) explicitly rejected the pre-Islamic practice of collective punishment where an entire tribe or family could be held accountable for the crime of one member.

The statement "No soul is affected by the sin of another" affirms that each person bears responsibility only for their own actions. This principle is firmly rooted in the Quranic verse: "And no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another" (Surah al-An'am, 6:164).

In the context of blood money and retaliation, this ruling prevents injustice against innocent relatives or tribe members. Only the actual perpetrator can be held accountable for their crime. This represents a significant advancement in legal thought, establishing justice and fairness as cornerstones of Islamic law.

Legal Implications

This ruling prohibits taking revenge against family members or tribesmen for crimes they did not personally commit.

Blood money (diyah) cannot be demanded from innocent relatives of the perpetrator.

Retaliation (qisas) applies only to the actual murderer, not their family or tribe.

This principle extends to all financial and criminal liabilities in Islamic law.