Fath al-Rabbani

Benefits: … The background of this mawquf hadith is as follows: From Abu Barzah, he said: I was with Abu Bakr radi Allahu anhu, and he became angry at a man, and spoke harshly to him. I said: “Do you permit me, O Caliph of the Messenger of Allah! Should I strike his neck?” He said: My words dispelled his anger, so he stood up and went inside. Then he sent for me and said: “What was it that you just said?” I said: “I asked if you would permit me to strike his neck.” He said: “If I had commanded you, would you have done it?” I said: “Yes.” He said: “No, by Allah! After Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, this right does not belong to any human being.” Abu Dawud said: This is the wording of Yazid. Ahmad ibn Hanbal said: That is, it was not for Abu Bakr to kill a man except in one of the three cases which the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam mentioned: (1) disbelief after faith, (2) adultery after having been married, or (3) killing a soul without (just cause for) a soul. And it was for the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam to kill (outside of these cases).

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Barzah radi Allahu anhu, he says: I was with Sayyiduna Abu Bakr radi Allahu anhu, he became angry at a man, and in response, he spoke harsh words. I said: “O Caliph of the Messenger! Will you permit me to kill him?” At my words, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr radi Allahu anhu’s anger subsided, and he stood up and went home. Then he sent for me and said: “What did you just say?” I said: “I asked if you would permit me, I would strike off his neck.” He said: “If I had ordered you, would you have done it?” I said: “Yes.” He said: “No, by Allah! After Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, this right does not belong to anyone.” Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal, explaining the meaning of this statement, said: That is, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr radi Allahu anhu did not have the right to kill anyone except in the three cases which the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam has mentioned. He sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: “Disbelief after faith, adultery after having been married, and killing a soul without (just cause for) a soul.” This right belonged only to the Noble Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, that he sallallahu alayhi wa sallam could kill such a person.

From this hadith, it is understood that the punishment for disrespecting the noble status of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam is death.