Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal: Book 5, Hadith 482
It was narrated from Hanash al-Kinani that some people in Yemen dug a trap for a lion, and (the lion) fell into it. The people gathered around, and one man fell in. He grabbed hold of another, then the other one grabbed hold of another, until four men had fallen in. They (their families) disputed concerning that until they took up arms against one another. `Ali (رضي الله عنه) said: `Ali (رضي الله عنه) said to me – and ‘Abdur-Rahman said: `Ali (رضي الله عنه) said to Abul-Hayyaj: I am sending you on the same mission as the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) sent me: do not leave any raised grave without levelling it or any image without erasing it.
حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ سِمَاكِ بْنِ حَرْبٍ، عَنْ حَنَشٍ الْكِنَانِيِّ، أَنَّ قَوْمًا، بِالْيَمَنِ حَفَرُوا زُبْيَةً لِأَسَدٍ فَوَقَعَ فِيهَا فَتَكَابَّ النَّاسُ عَلَيْهِ فَوَقَعَ فِيهَا رَجُلٌ فَتَعَلَّقَ بِآخَرَ ثُمَّ تَعَلَّقَ الْآخَرُ بِآخَرَ حَتَّى كَانُوا فِيهَا أَرْبَعَةً فَتَنَازَعَ فِي ذَلِكَ حَتَّى أَخَذَ السِّلَاحَ بَعْضُهُمْ لِبَعْضٍ فَقَالَ لَهُمْ عَلِيٌّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ أَتَقْتُلُونَ مِائَتَيْنِ فِي أَرْبَعَةٍ وَلَكِنْ سَأَقْضِي بَيْنَكُمْ بِقَضَاءٍ إِنْ رَضِيتُمُوهُ لِلْأَوَّلِ رُبُعُ الدِّيَةِ وَلِلثَّانِي ثُلُثُ الدِّيَةِ وَلِلثَّالِثِ نِصْفُ الدِّيَةِ وَلِلرَّابِعِ الدِّيَةُ فَلَمْ يَرْضَوْا بِقَضَائِهِ فَأَتَوْا النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ سَأَقْضِي بَيْنَكُمْ بِقَضَاءٍ قَالَ فَأُخْبِرَ بِقَضَاءِ عَلِيٍّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ فَأَجَازَهُ.
Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal: Book 5, Hadith 482
The above hadith is from the Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal collection of hadiths. Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal’s Musnad represents one of the largest and most significant early collections of prophetic traditions. This massive compilation is uniquely arranged by the names of the companions (Sahabah), devoting individual chapters to each one to consolidate all the narrations they are known to have transmitted. This approach offers profound insights into the teachings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad from the perspective of those who knew him best. The collection is universally esteemed for its authenticity and historical value, serving as a critical resource for scholars. However, because it aims for breadth, it encompasses a wide range of narrations, including some that experts have identified as having less reliable chains of narration alongside its many strong ones.
Use the tags to drill down deeper and find connections and new streams of information to help you fill gaps in knowledge and better connect the dots. Eman and Life is a growing database of knowledge with the mission to help further us in our pursuit of the best lifestyle through the guidance of the Quran and Sunnah.
For more Hadith in Book 5: Musnad ‘Ali Ibn Abi Talib