Chapters on Legal Cases and Rulings
Chapter on Absconding Slaves
3545 - وَ رُوِيَ عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ قَالَ : "اُدْعُ بِهَذَا اَلدُّعَاءِ لِلْآبِقِ وَ اُكْتُبْهُ فِي وَرَقَةٍ : اَللَّهُمَّ اَلسَّمَاءُ لَكَ وَ اَلْأَرْضُ لَكَ وَ مَا بَيْنَهُمَا لَكَ فَاجْعَلْ مَا بَيْنَهُمَا أَضْيَقَ عَلَى فُلاَنٍ مِنْ جِلْدِ جَمَلٍ حَتَّى تَرُدَّهُ عَلَيَّ وَ تُظْفِرَنِي بِهِ وَ لْيَكُنْ حَوْلَ اَلْكِتَابِ آيَةُ اَلْكُرْسِيِّ مَكْتُوبَةً مُدَوَّرَةً ثُمَّ اِدْفِنْهُ وَ ضَعْ فَوْقَهُ شَيْئاً ثَقِيلاً فِي اَلْمَوْضِعِ اَلَّذِي كَانَ يَأْوِي فِيهِ بِاللَّيْلِ".
Hadith.3545 - Mu'awiyah ibn Ammar narrated from Abu Abdullah (as):
"Recite this supplication for the runaway slave and write it down on a piece of paper:
'O Allah (swt)! The heavens belong to You, the earth belongs to You, and whatever is between them belongs to You. Make what is between them tighter upon [slave's name] than the skin of a camel, until You return him to me and make me victorious over him.'
Then, write Ayat al-Kursi around the paper in a circular manner. Bury it and place something heavy over it in the spot where he used to take shelter at night."
Chapters on Legal Cases and Rulings
Chapter on Apostasy
3546 - رَوَى هِشَامُ بْنُ سَالِمٍ عَنْ عَمَّارٍ اَلسَّابَاطِيِّ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ يَقُولُ : "كُلُّ مُسْلِمٍ بَيْنَ مُسْلِمَيْنِ اِرْتَدَّ عَنِ اَلْإِسْلاَمِ وَ جَحَدَ مُحَمَّداً صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ نُبُوَّتَهُ وَ كَذَّبَهُ فَإِنَّ دَمَهُ مُبَاحٌ لِكُلِّ مَنْ سَمِعَ ذَلِكَ مِنْهُ وَ اِمْرَأَتَهُ بَائِنَةٌ مِنْهُ فَلاَ تَقْرَبْهُ وَ يُقْسَمُ مَالُهُ عَلَى وَرَثَتِهِ وَ تَعْتَدُّ اِمْرَأَتُهُ عِدَّةَ اَلْمُتَوَفَّى عَنْهَا زَوْجُهَا، وَ عَلَى اَلْإِمَامِ أَنْ يَقْتُلَهُ إِنْ أُتِيَ بِهِ وَ لاَ يَسْتَتِيبَهُ ".
Hadith.3546 - Hisham ibn Salim narrated from Ammar al-Sabati who said:
I heard Abu Abdullah (as), say: "Any Muslim who is living among Muslims and then apostasizes from Islam, denies the prophethood of Muhammad, peace be upon him and his family, and rejects him, then his blood is permissible (to be shed) for anyone who hears that from him.
His wife becomes separated from him and must not approach him. His wealth is distributed among his heirs, and his wife observes the waiting period (iddah) as if her husband had died. It is upon the Imam to execute him if he is brought before him, and he is not to be given the opportunity to repent."
3547 - وَ رَوَى اَلسَّكُونِيُّ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ آبَائِهِ عَلَيْهِمُ اَلسَّلاَمُ : "أَنَّ اَلْمُرْتَدَّ عَنِ اَلْإِسْلاَمِ تُعْزَلُ عَنْهُ اِمْرَأَتُهُ وَ لاَ تُؤْكَلُ ذَبِيحَتُهُ وَ يُسْتَتَابُ ثَلاَثاً فَإِنْ رَجَعَ وَ إِلاَّ قُتِلَ يَوْمَ اَلرَّابِعِ إِذَا كَانَ صَحِيحَ اَلْعَقْلِ".
Hadith.3547 - Al-Sakuni narrated from Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) from his father, Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as), from his forefathers, peace be upon them:
"A person who apostasizes from Islam is to be separated from his wife, his slaughtered meat is not to be eaten, and he is to be given an opportunity to repent for three days. If he repents, he is spared, but if he does not repent, he is killed on the fourth day, provided he is of sound mind."
3548 - وَ رَوَى حَمَّادٌ عَنِ اَلْحَلَبِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ : فِي اَلْمُرْتَدِّ عَنِ اَلْإِسْلاَمِ قَالَ "لاَ تُقْتَلُ وَ تُسْتَخْدَمُ خِدْمَةً شَدِيدَةً وَ تُمْنَعُ عَنِ اَلطَّعَامِ وَ اَلشَّرَابِ إِلاَّ مَا تُمْسِكُ بِهِ نَفْسَهَا وَ تُلْبَسُ أَخْشَنَ اَلثِّيَابِ وَ تُضْرَبُ عَلَى اَلصَّلَوَاتِ ".
Hadith.3548 - Hammad narrated from Al-Halabi, from Abu Abdullah (as), regarding a person who apostasizes from Islam:
"He is not to be killed but is to be subjected to hard labor, denied food and drink except what sustains his life, made to wear coarse clothing, and beaten to perform prayers."
3549 - وَ فِي رِوَايَةِ غِيَاثِ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ أَنَّ عَلِيّاً عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ قَالَ : "إِذَا اِرْتَدَّتِ اَلْمَرْأَةُ عَنِ اَلْإِسْلاَمِ لَمْ تُقْتَلْ وَ لَكِنْ تُحْبَسُ أَبَداً".
Hadith.3549 - In a narration by Ghiyath ibn Ibrahim, from Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) from his father, Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as), that Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) said:
"If a woman apostasizes from Islam, she is not to be killed but is to be imprisoned forever."
3550 - وَ قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ : "إِنَّ عَلِيّاً عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ لَمَّا فَرَغَ مِنْ أَهْلِ اَلْبَصْرَةِ أَتَاهُ سَبْعُونَ رَجُلاً مِنَ اَلزُّطِّ فَسَلَّمُوا عَلَيْهِ وَ كَلَّمُوهُ بِلِسَانِهِمْ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهُمْ "إِنِّي لَسْتُ كَمَا قُلْتُمْ أَنَا عَبْدُ اَللَّهِ مَخْلُوقٌ" " قَالَ "فَأَبَوْا عَلَيْهِ وَ قَالُوا لَعَنَهُمُ اَللَّهُ لاَ بَلْ أَنْتَ أَنْتَ هُوَ فَقَالَ لَهُمْ "لَئِنْ لَمْ تَرْجِعُوا عَمَّا قُلْتُمْ وَ لَمْ تَتُوبُوا إِلَى اَللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَأَقْتُلَنَّكُمْ" " قَالَ "فَأَبَوْا عَلَيْهِ أَنْ يَتُوبُوا وَ يَرْجِعُوا " قَالَ "فَأَمَرَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ أَنْ تُحْفَرَ لَهُمْ آبَارٌ فَحُفِرَتْ ثُمَّ خَرَقَ بَعْضَهَا إِلَى بَعْضٍ ثُمَّ قَذَفَ بِهِمْ فِيهَا ثُمَّ جَنَّ رُءُوسَهَا ثُمَّ أَلْهَبَ فِي بِئْرٍ مِنْهَا نَاراً وَ لَيْسَ فِيهَا أَحَدٌ مِنْهُمْ فَدَخَلَ فِيهَا اَلدُّخَانُ عَلَيْهِمْ فَمَاتُوا".
Hadith.3550 - Abu Ja'far Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as), said:
"When Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) had finished dealing with the people of Basra, seventy men from the Zutt came to him, greeted him, and spoke to him in their language.
Then Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) said to them: 'Indeed, I am not as you have said. I am a servant of Allah (swt), created by Him.'
They refused to accept his words and said (may Allah (swt) curse them): 'No, rather you are (God) Himself.'
So Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) said to them: 'If you do not retract what you have said and do not repent to Allah (swt), the Almighty and Glorious, I will surely kill you.'
They refused to repent or retract.
Then, Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as), ordered that pits be dug for them, which were then connected to one another. Imam (as) cast them into these pits and covered their openings.
Imam (as) then lit a fire in one of the pits, without any of them inside, causing smoke to enter and suffocate them until they died."
3551 - وَ ذَلِكَ أَنَّ رَجُلَيْنِ بِالْكُوفَةِ مِنَ اَلْمُسْلِمِينَ أَتَى رَجُلٌ أَمِيرَ اَلْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ فَشَهِدَ أَنَّهُ رَآهُمَا يُصَلِّيَانِ لِصَنَمٍ فَقَالَ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ وَيْحَكَ لَعَلَّهُ بَعْضُ مَنْ يَشْتَبِهُ عَلَيْكَ أَمْرُهُ فَأَرْسَلَ رَجُلاً فَنَظَرَ إِلَيْهِمَا وَ هُمَا يُصَلِّيَانِ لِصَنَمٍ فَأَتَى بِهِمَا قَالَ فَقَالَ لَهُمَا اِرْجِعَا فَأَبَيَا فَخَدَّ لَهُمَا فِي اَلْأَرْضِ أُخْدُوداً وَ أَجَّجَ فِيهِ نَاراً فَطَرَحَهُمَا فِيهِ رَوَى ذَلِكَ مُوسَى بْنُ بَكْرٍ عَنِ اَلْفُضَيْلِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ :.
Hadith.3551 - And it is reported that two men in Kufa, who were Muslims, were brought before Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as). A man testified that he had seen them praying to an idol.
Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) said: "Woe unto you! Perhaps it is someone who merely appeared similar to them, and the matter has confused you."
Then, Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) sent a man to observe them. The man returned and confirmed that they were indeed praying to an idol.
So, Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) summoned them and said: "Repent and return (to Islam)."
But they refused.
Then, Imam (as) dug a trench in the ground, lit a fire in it, and threw them into the fire.
This was narrated by Musa ibn Bakr from al-Fudayl, from Abu Abdullah (as).
3552 - وَ كَتَبَ غُلاَمٌ لِأَمِيرِ اَلْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ إِلَيْهِ إِنِّي قَدْ أَصَبْتُ قَوْماً مِنَ اَلْمُسْلِمِينَ زَنَادِقَةً وَ قَوْماً مِنَ اَلنَّصَارَى زَنَادِقَةً فَقَالَ "أَمَّا مَنْ كَانَ مِنَ اَلْمُسْلِمِينَ وُلِدَ عَلَى اَلْفِطْرَةِ ثُمَّ اِرْتَدَّ فَاضْرِبْ عُنُقَهُ وَ لاَ تَسْتَتِبْهُ وَ مَنْ لَمْ يُولَدْ مِنْهُمْ عَلَى اَلْفِطْرَةِ فَاسْتَتِبْهُ فَإِنْ تَابَ وَ إِلاَّ فَاضْرِبْ عُنُقَهُ وَ أَمَّا اَلنَّصَارَى فَمَا هُمْ عَلَيْهِ أَعْظَمُ مِنَ اَلزَّنْدَقَةِ".
Hadith.3552 - A servant wrote to Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) saying:
"I have come across a group of Muslims who are heretics (Zindiqs) and a group of Christians who are also heretics."
Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) replied: "As for those who were born as Muslims, upon the natural disposition (Fitrah), and then apostatized-strike their necks (execute them) and do not offer them repentance.
But those who were not born upon the natural disposition (Fitrah), offer them repentance. If they repent, then leave them; but if they do not, then strike their necks (execute them).
And as for the Christians, what they are upon (their belief system) is even graver than heresy."
3553 - وَ فِي رِوَايَةِ مُوسَى بْنِ بَكْرٍ عَنِ اَلْفُضَيْلِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ : "أَنَّ رَجُلاً مِنَ اَلْمُسْلِمِينَ تَنَصَّرَ فَأُتِيَ بِهِ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ فَاسْتَتَابَهُ فَأَبَى عَلَيْهِ فَقَبَضَ عَلَى شَعْرِهِ وَ قَالَ "طَئُوا عِبَادَ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ" فَوُطِئَ حَتَّى مَاتَ".
Hadith.3553 - In a narration reported by Musa bin Bakr from Al-Fudhayl, from Abu Abdullah (as):
"A man from among the Muslims converted to Christianity. He was brought to Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as).
Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) asked him to repent, but he refused.
Then Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) seized him by his hair and said: 'Trample upon him, O servants of Allah (swt)!' So they trampled him until he died."
3554 - وَ رَوَى فَضَالَةُ عَنْ أَبَانٍ أَنَّ أَبَا عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ قَالَ : فِي اَلصَّبِيِّ إِذَا شَبَّ فَاخْتَارَ اَلنَّصْرَانِيَّةَ وَ أَحَدُ أَبَوَيْهِ نَصْرَانِيٌّ أَوْ جَمِيعاً مُسْلِمَيْنِ قَالَ "لاَ يُتْرَكُ وَ لَكِنْ يُضْرَبُ عَلَى اَلْإِسْلاَمِ ".
Hadith.3554 - In a narration reported by Fadalah from Aban, Abu Abdullah (as) said:
"Regarding a child who grows up and chooses Christianity while one of his parents is a Christian or both of them are Muslims, he is not to be left (in that state), but rather he is compelled to follow Islam."