باب النهي عن تعذيب العبد والدابة والمرأة والولد بغير سبب شرعي أو زائد على قدر الأدب
Here the prohibition widens to cover every creature placed under our power, animals, servants, women, and children. The chapter title speaks of cruelty without lawful cause or beyond the measure of correction, and the hadith show a Prophet (peace be upon him) who treated mercy toward the weak as a serious matter of the heart, not a sentimental afterthought.
Watch two threads run through these reports. One is the sanctity of life and the body, no animal made into a living target, no face struck or branded, no creature starved. The other is the awe of standing before God's greater power, when Abu Mas'ud is reminded that Allah has more dominance over him than he has over his slave, the whip falls from his hand. Power over another is a trust, and it will be answered for.
Hadith 1600
Ibn 'Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) said:
وعن ابن عمر رضي الله عنهما أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: "عذبت امرأة في هِرة حبستها حتى ماتت، فدخلت فيها النار، لا هي أطعمتها وسقتها، إذ هي حبستها، ولا هي تركتها تأكل من خشاش الأرض" ((متفق عليه)). ((خشاش الأرض)) يفتح الخاء المعجمة وبالشين المعجمة المكررة، وهي: هوامها وحشراتها.
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "A woman was punished in Hell because of a cat which she had confined until it died. She did not give it to eat or to drink when it was confined, nor did she free it so that it might eat the vermin of the earth." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
In plain words
A woman was punished over a cat she shut up until it starved, neither feeding it nor freeing it to fend for itself. Cruelty to a helpless creature is taken seriously.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1600 In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 90
Hadith 1601
Ibn 'Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) reported:
وعنه أنه مر بفتيان من قريش قد نصبوا طيرًا وهم يرمونه، وقد جعلوا لصاحب الطير كل خاطئة من نبلهم، فلما رأوا ابن عمر تفرقوا، فقال ابن عمر: من فعل هذا؟ لعن الله من فعل هذا، إن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم لعن من اتخذ شيئًا فيه روح غرضًا. ((متفق عليه)). "الغَرَض" : بفتح الغين المعجمة والراء، وهو الهدف، والشيء الذي يرمى إليه.
I happened to pass by some lads of the Quraish who had tied a bird at which they have been shooting arrows. Every arrow that they missed came into the possession of the owner of the bird. No sooner had they seen Ibn 'Umar, they dispersed. Thereupon, Ibn 'Umar said: "Who has done this? May Allah curse him who has done so. Verily, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) has cursed anyone who makes a live thing the target (of one's marksmanship)." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
In plain words
Ibn 'Umar rebuked youths who tied up a bird as a target for arrows, recalling that the Prophet (peace be upon him) cursed making any living thing a target. A creature's life is not to be wasted for sport.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1601 In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 91
Hadith 1602
Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) said:
وعن أنس رضي الله عنه قال: نهى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أن تُصبر البهائم. ((متفق عليه)). ومعناه: تحبس للقتل.
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade animals being tied (as targets). [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
In plain words
The Prophet (peace be upon him) forbade tying up animals to be used as targets. Animals are not to be made into objects for shooting practice.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1602 In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 92
Hadith 1603
Abu Ali Suwaid bin Muqarrin (May Allah be pleased with him) said:
وعن أبي علي سويد بن مقرن رضي الله عنه قال: لقد رأيتني سابع سبعة من بني مقرن ما لنا خادم إلا واحدة لطمها أصغرنا فأمرنا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أن نعتقها. ((رواه مسلم)). ورواية: "سابع إخوة لي" .
I was the seventh child of Banu Muqarrin and we had only one slave-girl. When the youngest of us once happened to slap her (on the face) the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) ordered us to set her free. [Muslim].
In plain words
When the youngest of the family slapped their one slave-girl on the face, the Prophet (peace be upon him) ordered them to set her free. Striking the face of someone in your power is treated as a serious wrong.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1603 In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 93
Hadith 1604
Abu Mas'ud Al-Badri (May Allah be pleased with him) said:
وعن أبي مسعود البدري رضي الله عنه قال: "كنتُ أضرب غلامًا لي بالوسط، فسمعت صوتًا من خلفي: "اعلم أبا مسعود" فلم أفهم الصوت من الغضب، فلما دنا مني إذا هو رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فإذا هو يقول: "اعلم أبا مسعود أن الله أقدرُ عليك منك على هذا الغلام" فقلت: لا أضرب مملوكًا بعده أبدًا. ((وفي رواية: فسقط السوط من يدي من هيبته)) ((وفي رواية: فقلت: يارسول الله هو حر لوجه الله تعالى، فقال: "أما لو لم تفعل، للفحتك النار، أو لمستك النار" ((رواه مسلم بهذه الروايات)).
I was beating my slave with a whip when I heard a voice behind me which said: "Abu Mas'ud! Bear in mind..." I did not recognize the voice for the intense anger I was in. Abu Mas'ud added: As he came near me, I found that he was the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) who was saying, "Abu Mas'ud! Bear in mind that Allah has more dominance upon you than you have upon your slave." Then I said: "I will never beat any slave in future." Another narration is: The whip dropped from my hand in awe of the Prophet (ﷺ). Still another narration is: I said: "He is free for the sake of Allah." He (ﷺ) said, "If you had not done this, you would have been scorched by the Fire." [Muslim].
In plain words
While beating his slave, Abu Mas'ud heard the Prophet (peace be upon him) remind him that Allah has far greater power over him than he has over the slave. Awareness of God's power over us should soften how we treat those under us.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1604 In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 94
Hadith 1605
Ibn 'Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) reported:
وعن ابن عمر رضي الله عنهما أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: "من ضرب غلامًا له حدًا لم يأتهِ، أو لطمه، فإن كفارته أن يعتقه" ((رواه مسلم)).
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "The expiation for beating or slapping a slave on the face for something he has not done is to set him free." [Muslim].
In plain words
The way to make up for beating or slapping a slave on the face for nothing is to set him free. Wronging someone in your charge carries a real cost.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1605 In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 95
Hadith 1606
It has been narrated that Hisham bin Hakim bin Hizam (May Allah be pleased with them) happened to pass by some (non-Arab) farmers of Syria who had been made to stand in the sun, and olive oil was poured on their heads. He said:
وعن هشام بن حكيم بن حزام رضي الله عنه أنه مر بالشام على أناس من الأنباط، وقد أقيموا في الشمس، وصُب على رءوسهم الزيت فقال: ما هذا؟ يُعذبون في الخراج وفي رواية: حُبسوا في الجزية. فقال هشام: أشهد لسمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: "إن الله يعذب الذين يعذبون الناس في الدنيا" فدخل على الأمير، فحدثه، فأمر بهم فخلوا" ((رواه مسلم. "الأنباط" الفلاحون من العجم)).
"What is the matter?" He was told that they had been detained for the non-payment of Jizyah. (Another narration says that they were being tortured for not having paid Al-Kharaj). Thereupon Hisham said: "I bear testimony to the fact that I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saying, 'Allah will torment those who torment people in the world."' Then he proceeded towards their Amir and reported this Hadith to him. The Amir then issued orders for their release. [Muslim].
In plain words
Seeing labourers made to stand in the sun and tormented over unpaid dues, Hisham reported the Prophet's warning that Allah will punish those who torment people. He spoke up and the captives were released, showing that cruelty must be opposed, not ignored.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1606 In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 96
Hadith 1607
Ibn 'Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) said:
وعن ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما قال: رأى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم حمارًا موسوم الوجه، فأنكر ذلك؟ فقال: والله لا أسمه إلا أقصى شيء من الوجه، وأمر بحماره، فكوي في جاعرتيه، فهو أول من كوى الجاعرتين. ((رواه مسلم)).((الجاعرتان)): ناحية الوركين حول الدبر.
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saw an ass which had been branded on the face. He disapproved of it. Upon this Ibn 'Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) said, "By Allah, I shall not brand (the animal) but on a part at a distance from the face." Ibn 'Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) then commanded branding on the hips; he was the first person to brand the animals on hips. [Muslim].
In plain words
Seeing a donkey branded on the face, the Prophet (peace be upon him) disapproved, so Ibn 'Abbas branded animals only away from the face. Even an animal's face is to be spared needless harm.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1607 In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 97
Hadith 1608
Ibn 'Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) said:
وعنه أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم : مر عليه حمار قد وُسم في وجهه، فقال: "لعن الله الذي وسمه" ((رواه مسلم. وفي رواية لمسلم أيضًا: نهى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم عن الضرب في الوجه، وعن الوسم في الوجه)).
An ass with a brand on the face happened to pass before the Prophet (ﷺ). Thereupon he said, "May Allah curse the one who has branded it (on the face)." [Muslim]. Another narration in Muslim is: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prohibited us from hitting across the face and branding on the face (of an animal)."
In plain words
The Prophet (peace be upon him) called down a curse on whoever branded a donkey on its face, and forbade striking or branding animals on the face. The face of a creature deserves protection.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1608 In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 98