Hadithcore
Sahih al-Bukhari, 2703
sahih

Narrated Anas:

Ar-Rabi, the daughter of An-Nadr broke the tooth of a girl, and the relatives of Ar-Rabi` requested the girl's relatives to accept the Irsh (compensation for wounds etc.) and forgive (the offender), but they refused. So, they went to the Prophet (ﷺ) who ordered them to bring about retaliation. Anas bin An-Nadr asked, "O Allah"; Messenger! Will the tooth of Ar-Rabi` be broken? No, by Him Who has sent you with the Truth, her tooth will not be broken." The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "O Anas! Allah"; law ordains retaliation." Later the relatives of the girl agreed and forgave her. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "There are some of Allah's slaves who, if they take an oath by Allah, are responded to by Allah i.e. their oath is fulfilled). Anas added, "The people agreed and accepted the Irsh."

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الأَنْصَارِيُّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي حُمَيْدٌ، أَنَّ أَنَسًا، حَدَّثَهُمْ أَنَّ الرُّبَيِّعَ ـ وَهْىَ ابْنَةُ النَّضْرِ ـ كَسَرَتْ ثَنِيَّةَ جَارِيَةٍ، فَطَلَبُوا الأَرْشَ وَطَلَبُوا الْعَفْوَ، فَأَبَوْا فَأَتَوُا النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأَمَرَهُمْ بِالْقِصَاصِ‏.‏ فَقَالَ أَنَسُ بْنُ النَّضْرِ أَتُكْسَرُ ثَنِيَّةُ الرُّبَيِّعِ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ لاَ وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ لاَ تُكْسَرُ ثَنِيَّتُهَا فَقَالَ ‏"‏ يَا أَنَسُ كِتَابُ اللَّهِ الْقِصَاصُ ‏"‏‏.‏ فَرَضِيَ الْقَوْمُ وَعَفَوْا فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ إِنَّ مِنْ عِبَادِ اللَّهِ مَنْ لَوْ أَقْسَمَ عَلَى اللَّهِ لأَبَرَّهُ ‏"‏‏.‏ زَادَ الْفَزَارِيُّ عَنْ حُمَيْدٍ عَنْ أَنَسٍ فَرَضِيَ الْقَوْمُ وَقَبِلُوا الأَرْشَ‏.‏

References2 variants
In-Book Reference
Book 53, Hadith 13
USC-MSA web (English) reference
Vol. 3, Book 49, Hadith 866 (deprecated numbering scheme)
Sharh · explanationclick to expand
The Islamic Laws of Islam specified the penalties designated for causing bodily injury and harm, and gave the victim the choice between taking retribution by afflicting an equal bodily injury on the offender, or pardoning and forgiving him. In this hadeeth, Narrated Anas ibn Maalik (may Allah be pleased with him) that Al-Rabee‘, the daughter of Al-Nadhr (may Allah be pleased with her) broke the front tooth of a girl, and the relatives of Al-Rabee‘ requested the girl's relatives to accept the Arsh (i.e., restitution, money paid in compensation for bodily injury, wounds, harm … etc.) and forgive (the offender), but they refused. Arsh Al-‘Ayb refers to the compensation for a defect that is payable by the seller to the buyer if the latter discovered a defect in the purchased commodity. In the context of offence and criminal injuries, the Arsh is similar in essence, because it compensates for the physical defect (damage) caused. The girl’s relatives refused to accept the Arsh and forgive Al-Rabee‘. They went to the Prophet ﷺ, and referred their dispute to him, and he ﷺ ordered them to establish equivalent retribution. Her brother, Anas ibn Al-Nadhr (may Allah be pleased with him) asked, "O Allah’s Messenger! Will the front tooth of Al-Rabee‘ be broken? No, by Him Who has sent you with the Truth, her tooth will not be broken!" The Prophet ﷺ said, "O Anas! Allah, Exalted is He, ordains Qisaas (i.e., retribution)." This entailed that the front tooth of Al-Rabee‘ would be broken. It is noteworthy that his statement was not an objection to the Prophet’s judgment or the relevant Laws of Islam provision, but he (may Allah be pleased with him) rather wanted the Prophet ﷺ to intercede with them, or it was said before he (may Allah be pleased with him) came to know that Allah, Exalted is He, particularly ordains Qisaas in such situations, and he had thought that they were given the choice between the Qisaas or the Diyyah (i.e., blood money). Afterward, the relatives of the girl agreed, forgave her, and accepted the Arsh. The Prophet ﷺsaid, "There are some servants of Allah were they to swear by Allah, Exalted is He, (that something would happen), He will certainly make it happen,” because he (may Allah be pleased with him) made such an oath aspiring to the grace of Allah, Exalted is He, who knew of his sincerity and keenness, and therefore made what he desired come true. Were these obedient servants and close allies of Allah, Exalted is He, to swear by His name that something should happen, He would certainly make it come to pass. It is deduced from the hadeeth that it is allowable for the harmed person to pardon the offender, give up his right to the Qisaas, and accept the prescribed compensation. The hadeeth highlights the merits of Anas ibn Al-Nadhr (may Allah be pleased with him)..
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