#1018: Clarification On The Hadith Of Not Hitting The Face
Assalamu alaykum.
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), as narrated by Abu Hurayrah: “When any one of you fights, let him avoid (striking) the face.” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, al-Fath, 5/215).
Does when fighting the enemy one shouldn’t hit the face. What about things such as snipping, or in sword fights where the head region is often the target to finish off the enemy.
Kindly guide us in this matter.
ANSWER:
Wa Alaykum Salam Warahmatullah Wabarakatuh
Alhamdulillah.
The hadith reported on the authority of Abū Hurairah by Imāmul Bukhari in his Sahīh was mentioned in the chapter (If one of you were to hit his servant, he should avoid the face) . The hadith reads as follows;
“إذاقاتل أحدكم، فليجتنب الوجه”
Meaning “When one of you fights, he should avoid the face”
Other narrators reported “إذا قاتل” as “إذا ضرب”.
That is, instead of (fights), they reported (hit). This is why some translators translated “قاتل” as “ضرب”.
Allah knows best.
The prohibition of hitting the face as mentioned in the hadith is general in all cases regardless of fighting, discipline, teaching, punishment, etc. It also applies to both Muslim and non-Muslim, Human and Animals because the face is the most honoured and sensitive part of the body. Assan’ānī stated in Subulus-salām:
“This is evidence on the prohibition of hitting the face in Hadd (capital punishment) and other than it.”
In the case of fighting where one aim at killing his enemy, it is known that killing is not achieved by mere hitting of the face, and this is why Allah, the Almighty instructed us saying:
(فَإِذَا لَقِيتُمُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا فَضَرْبَ الرِّقَابِ….)
So when you meet in battle those who disbelieve, then smite the necks.. [Muhammad, 4]
This verse shows the mercy of Allah to the Kuffar in the dunya as He commanded striking their necks so as to ease their death.
Also the Prophet (Peace and blessings be upon him) has prohibited mutilating the body of the Kuffar and commanded us to be kind to that which we are going to slaughter.
Striking the necks of the Kuffar is what the Shari’ah commanded unless if one is in a situation where the face has to be hit before finishing off the enemy, then here it has become necessity and wājib before the enemy kills him.
Also, when using a sniper or a gun, the head, neck or heart can be targeted because these are places that can lead to easy death of the enemy if the bullet pierce through them.
Allah knows best.
Barakallahu Fikum
Jazakumullahu Khayran.
Abū Abdillah
5th Shawwāl, 1441AH.
📚 IslāmNode
