The Book Pertaining to the Oath, for Establishing the Responsibility of Murders, Fighting, Requital and Blood-Wit (Kitab Al-Kitab Al-Qasama wa'l-Muharaba wa'l-Qisas wa'l-Diyat)

Muslim :: Book 16 : Hadith 4120

Sahl. b. Abu Hathma and Rafi' b. Khadij reported that Muhayyisa b. Mas'ud and 'Abdullah b. Sahl went towards Khaibar and they separated near the palm-trees. 'Abdullah b. Sahl was killed. They accused the Jews (for this act). And there came to Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) his brother (the brother of the slain person) 'Abd al-Rahman and his cousins Huwayyisa and Muhayyisa; and 'Abd al-Rahman talked to him about the matter pertaining to (the murder of) his brother, and he was the youngest among them. Thereupon Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: Show regard for the greatness of the old, or he said: Let the eldest begin speaking. Then they (Huwayyisa and Muhayyisa) spoke about the matter of their companion (murder of their cousin, 'Abdullah b. Sahl). Thereupon Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: Let fifty (persons) among you take oath for levelling the charge (of murder) against a person amongst them, and he would be surrendered to you. They said: We have not witnessed this matter ourselves. How can we then take oath? He (the Holy Prophet) said: The Jews will exonerate themselves by the oaths of fifty of them. They said: Messenger of Allah, they are non-believing people. Thereupon Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) paid the blood wit for him. Sahl said: As one day I entered the fold a she-camel amongst those camels hit me with its leg.