I went with God’s Messenger on the expedition of the army of distress,* and I had a hired servant who fought with a man, one of whom bit the other’s hand. The one who was bitten drew away his hand from the mouth of the one who bit him, dislodging his front tooth which fell out. He went to the Prophet, but he imposed no retaliation for his front tooth, saying, ‘Could he be expected to leave his hand in your mouth when you were crunching it like a male camel?”
(Bukhari and Muslim.)
* This refers to the expedition to Tabuk in 9 A H. Cf. Al-Qur'an, 9:117.
Abu Huraira told that a man came and asked God’s Messenger to tell him what he should do if a man came wanting to take his property. He replied, “Do not give him your property.” He asked him to tell him what to do if the man fought with him, and he replied, “Fight with him.” He asked him to tell him what would happen if the man killed him, and he replied, “You will be a martyr.” He asked him to tell him what would happen if he killed the man, and he replied, “He will go to hell.”
Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “No retaliation is payable for a wound caused by a dumb animal, for a mine, or for a well.”*
(Bukhari and Muslim.)
* A longer form is given on p. 380. The reference is said to be an animal which is not at the time under anyone's charge. No responsibility attaches to anyone who has dug a mine or a well in a place where he is entitled to do so if someone falls in.
