A prophet brands people's eyes with hot iron, cuts their hands and feet!



They said: the prophet of Islam. Branded people's eyes with hot iron, cut their hands and feet without any right…Is that an example of his mercy?

They referred to the speech mentioned in The Correct Bukari, book of (Boundaries), chapter (the prophet (PBUH) brands the warriors eyes with hot iron), no. 6307. Anas Ibn Malek narrated that some people of Ukl or Uraina tribe came to Medina and its climate did not suit them. So the prophet ordered them to go to the herd of (Milch) camels and to drink their milk and urine (as a medicine). So they went as directed and after they became healthy, they killed the shepherd of the prophet and drove away all the camels. The news reached the prophet early in the morning and he sent men in their pursuit and they were captured and brought at noon. He then ordered to cut their hands and feet (and it was done), and their eyes were branded with hot iron, they were put in 'Al-Harra' and when they asked for water, no water was given to them." Abu Qilaba said, "Those people committed theft and murder, became infidels after embracing Islam and fought against Allah and His messenger ".

The reply to this misunderstanding:

First: the reply to the misunderstanding of drinking the camels' milk and urine, will be illustrated in detail in the sixth chapter. It's a proof of Muhammad's true prophecy, and is one of his (PBUH) miracles; as he adviced some people to drink the camels' milk and urine (as a medicine), and they were cured..It's mentioned in the speech: "till they were cured".
Thus, the speech doesn't stand in the objectors' favor, it rather proves Muhammad's (PBUH) true prophecy, and his miracles…and it's not an obligation to all Muslims to drink the camels' milk and urine..
Second: their allege that the prophet (PBUH) branded some people's eyes with hot iron, cut their hands and feet without any right, is a mere lie. This is proved in the following:
1 – It's mentioned in the speech: "they killed the shepherd of the prophet and drove away all the camels. The news reached the Prophet early in the morning and he sent men in their pursuit and they were captured and brought at noon. He then ordered to cut their hands and legs (and it was done), and their eyes were branded with hot iron, they were put in 'Al-Harra' and when they asked for water, no water was given to them".
2 – It's mentioned also in the speech: " Abu Qilaba said, "Those people committed theft and murder, became infidels after embracing Islam and fought against Allah and His messenger ".

3 – Another narration mentioned in The Correct Bukhari, no. 2795: "they killed the shepherd of the prophet, drove away all the camels, disbelieved after entering Islam. When the news reached the prophet, he ordered to bring them, cut their hands and feet, and then ordered to bring hot nails and put them in their eyes. They were put in "Al Harra", and when they asked for water, no one answered them till they died".

Thus, it's clear from the previous points that the prophet (PBUH) was the reason for their cure after entering Islam, by drinking the camels' milk and urine till they were cured. Then they killed the shepherd, stole the camels, and left Islam, which indicates betrayal and corruption.

The important question here: Is it right to kill those people or not?

Third: If someone asks: Is it from the prophet's mercy to brand people's eyes with hot iron and cut their hands and feet in such a savage way, because they killed only one shepherd and left Islam…?!

The answer will be illustrated in points:


1 – They didn't kill one man; this is proved in the narration mentioned in The Correct Bukhari, no. 6304: "they drank the camels' milk and urine, and were cured. Then, they left Islam, killed the shepherds, and stole the camels, so the prophet sent men to bring them. When they came, he ordered to cut their hands and feet, brand their eyes with hot iron, and they were left without water till they died".


2 – This speech is a practical application to what Allah, the Almighty, said in the Quran:{Indeed, the penalty for those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger and strive upon earth [to cause] corruption is none but that they be killed or crucified or that their hands and feet be cut off from opposite sides or that they be exiled from the land. That is for them a disgrace in this world; and for them in the Hereafter is a great punishment, Except for those who return [repenting] before you apprehend them. And know that Allah is Forgiving and Merciful} (The Table spread with Food: 33-34).

Al Nawawi says in his interpretation: the prophet (PBUH) sent men after them, cut their hands and legs, and branded their eyes with hot iron, then they were left alone, and when they asked for water, no one gave them till they died. This speech is mentioned in the punishment of warriors, and it goes with Allah's, the Almighty, words:{Indeed, the penalty for those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger and strive upon earth [to cause] corruption is none but that they be killed or crucified or that their hands and feet be cut off from opposite sides or that they be exiled from the land}.

3 – It's mentioned in Al Muntaqa Sharh Al Moataa, chapter 2, page 30 that Slaman Al Taimy narrated from Anas that they did with the shepherds same as what the prophet did with them. This is permissible to do with he who mayhemed a Muslim as a kind of punishment.


4 – In The Correct Muslim, no. 3164. Anas said: "The messenger of Allah (PBUH) ordered to pierce their eyes because they pierced the shepherds' eyes".


5 – In Tuhfat Al Ahwazy Fi Sharh Al Termethy, chapter 1, page 84: "The messenger of Allah (PBUH) pierced their eyes because they pierced the shepherds' eyes", the question is: what's reason behind tormenting them with fire? The answer: that was before the legislation of boundaries, and the revelation of warriors verse that prohibits mayhem. Some scholars said the prophet did that as a kind of punishment as a result of what they did with the shepherds.


6 – In Aon Al Maabood Lesharh Sunan Abu Dawood, chapter 9, page 398, Ibn Ishaq said: those men mayhemed the shepherd; they cut his hand and feet, pierced his eyes, and he was carried to Madina a dead body.

7 – In The Correct Bukahri, no. 6307: Abu Qelaba said: "Those men stole, killed, disbelieved after entering Islam, and fought against Allah and His messenger".
Fourth: The Bible mentions that prophet David (PBUH) cut people's hands and legs with saws. This is mentioned in:
1 – 2 Samuel 4:12:


And David commanded his young men, and they slew them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hanged them up over the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ishbosheth, and buried it in the sepulchre of Abner in Hebron.

2 – 1 Chronicles 20:

1 In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, Joab led out the army and ravaged the country of the Ammonites and came and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem. And Joab struck down Rabbah and overthrew it. 2 And David took the crown of their king from his head. He found that it weighed a talent[a] of gold, and in it was a precious stone. And it was placed on David's head. And he brought out the spoil of the city, a very great amount. 3 And he brought out the people who were in it and set them to labor[b] with saws and iron picks and axes.[c] And thus David did to all the cities of the Ammonites. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.


I have a question here: Why didn't the objectors attack prophet David (PBUH), who cut people's hands and feet with saws….?!
The Bible mentions also that prophet Elijah slaughtered 450 men at the brook of Kishon. This is in 1 The Kings 18:


17 When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is it you, you troubler of Israel?” 18 And he answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you have, and your father's house, because you have abandoned the commandments of the LORD and followed the Baals. 19 Now therefore send and gather all Israel to me at Mount Carmel, and the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel's table.”

20 So Ahab sent to all the people of Israel and gathered the prophets together at Mount Carmel. 21 And Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” And the people did not answer him a word. 22 Then Elijah said to the people, “I, even I only, am left a prophet of the LORD, but Baal's prophets are 450 men. 23 Let two bulls be given to us, and let them choose one bull for themselves and cut it in pieces and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it. And I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood and put no fire to it. 24 And you call upon the name of your god, and I will call upon the name of the LORD, and the God who answers by fire, he is God.” And all the people answered, “It is well spoken.” 25 Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first, for you are many, and call upon the name of your god, but put no fire to it.” 26 And they took the bull that was given them, and they prepared it and called upon the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no voice, and no one answered. And they limped around the altar that they had made. 27 And at noon Elijah mocked them, saying, “Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened.” 28 And they cried aloud and cut themselves after their custom with swords and lances, until the blood gushed out upon them. 29 And as midday passed, they raved on until the time of the offering of the oblation, but there was no voice. No one answered; no one paid attention.


30 Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.” And all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that had been thrown down. 31 Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD came, saying, “Israel shall be your name,” 32 and with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD. And he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two seahs[a] of seed. 33 And he put the wood in order and cut the bull in pieces and laid it on the wood. And he said, “Fill four jars with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood.” 34 And he said, “Do it a second time.” And they did it a second time. And he said, “Do it a third time.” And they did it a third time. 35 And the water ran around the altar and filled the trench also with water.
36 And at the time of the offering of the oblation, Elijah the prophet came near and said, “O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. 37 Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back.” 38 Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, “The LORD, he is God; the LORD, he is God.” 40 And Elijah said to them, “Seize the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape.” And they seized them. And Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon and slaughtered them there.


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Written by Sheikh Akram Hassan Morsi
Translation: Professor Islamic translation