"Allah's Messenger only poked out their eyes because they had poked out the eyes of the camel driver." Abu 'Eisa said: This Hadfth is Gharib. We do not know anyone who mentioned it other than this shaikh, from Yazid bin Zurai. And it is in accordance with the meaning of Allah's saying: "And wounds equal for equal"It has been reported that Muhammad bin Sirin said: "The Prophet only did this to them before the legislated punishments were revealed."
The Book on Purification - Jami' at-Tirmidhi
Hadith Reference: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 73
Contextual Analysis
This narration addresses the incident where the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) authorized retaliatory eye-gouging against those who had blinded a camel driver. This action occurred before the full revelation of Islamic penal code (hudud), representing a transitional period in Islamic legislation.
Legal Interpretation
The ruling is based on the Quranic principle of "wounds equal for equal" (Quran 5:45), permitting equivalent retaliation for physical injuries. However, classical scholars note this specific implementation was abrogated by later revelations establishing fixed punishments and blood money (diyah) systems.
Scholarly Commentary
Imam at-Tirmidhi's designation of this hadith as "Gharib" indicates its transmission through limited chains. The companion Muhammad bin Sirin's clarification emphasizes the temporal context - this ruling applied only during the early Medinan period before complete legislation of hudud punishments.
Jurisprudential Significance
This narration demonstrates the evolutionary nature of Islamic law, where early rulings were refined by subsequent revelations. The consensus of classical scholars holds that physical mutilation as punishment is no longer permissible in Islamic jurisprudence, replaced by standardized penalties and compensation systems.