مسند امام احمد بن حنبل · Hadith 438

It was narrated that Abu Umamah bin Sahl said: We were with 'Uthman when he was under siege in the house, He went to the entrance of the house, from which his words could be heard in al-Balnt. He went to that entrance, then came out to us and said: They were threatening to kill me just now. We said: Allah will suffice you against them, O Ameer al-Mu'mineen. He said: Why would they kill me? I heard the Messenger of Allah say: "It is not permissible (to shed) the blood of a Muslim except in three cases: if a man disbelieves after becoming Muslim, or commits zina after being married, or kills someone and is executed in return." By Allah, I have never wished to change my religion after Allah guided me; I never committed zina either during the Jahiliyyah or in Islam; and I have never killed anyone. So why would they kill me?

Translated by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan · Reviewed by Islamic University of Madinah · Published March 2020