Story of the Jewish Woman who Gifted a Poisoned Sheep to the Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him

Story of the Jewish Woman who Gifted a Poisoned Sheep to the Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him: It was narrated that Abu Hurairah, may Allaah be pleased with him, said:

“When Khaibar was conquered, a roasted poisoned sheep was presented to the Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, as a gift (by the Jews).

The Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, ordered, “Let all the Jews who have been here, be assembled before me.”

The Jews were collected and the Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, said (to them), “I am going to ask you a question. Will you tell the truth?”

They said, “Yes.’

The Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, asked, “Who is your father?”

They replied, “So-and-so.” He, peace and blessing be upon him, said, “You have told a lie; your father is so-and-so.” They said, “You are right.”

He, peace and blessing be upon him, said, “Will you now tell me the truth, if I ask you about something?”

They replied, “Yes, O Abul Qaasim; and if we should tell a lie, you can realize our lie as you have done regarding our father.”

On that he, peace and blessing be upon him, asked, “Who are the people of the (Hell) Fire?” They said, “We shall remain in the (Hell) Fire for a short period, and after that you will replace us.”

The Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, said, “You may be cursed and humiliated in it! By Allaah, we shall never replace you in it.”

Then he asked, “Will you now tell me the truth if I ask you a question?”

They said, “Yes, O Abul Qaasim.” He, peace and blessing be upon him, asked, “Have you poisoned this sheep?”

They said, “Yes.” He, peace and blessing be upon him, asked, “What made you do so?”

They said, “We wanted to know if you were a liar in which case we would get rid of you, and if you are a prophet then the poison would not harm you.”

Lessons drawn from the above mentioned Hadeeth :

1- The Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, accepted gift; however, did not accept charity nor was it permissible for him. That is because rulings of gift differ from that of charity.
2- It is permissible to take gift from the Jews and eat their slaughtered animals.
3- Allah The Almighty has revealed to His Messenger, peace and blessing be upon him, hidden and unseen matters.

4-  Stubbornness of the Jews i.e. although they acknowledged the truthfulness of the Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, when he told them about the real name of their father and the poison they put in the sheep, they remain stubborn and went on denying his Prophethood.
5- The greatness of the character of the Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, his great forbearing, patience, loving forgiveness and pardoning, where the Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, did not take revenge for himself and did not punish the woman.
6- Allaah The Almighty has preserved His Religion and Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him. The secret of the Jews were revealed and their efforts were of no avail. The Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, remained a life, led armies, conquered countries, offered Hajj, and gave sermons, admonishments, guidance and advices. The will of the enemies have never prevented the Will of Allaah The Almighty to come true.
7- Things such as, poisons and the like, have no effect with themselves. Bishr ibn Al-Baraa’, may Allaah be pleased with him, died from the poison while the Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, used to feel ill from that sheep but did not die from it; rather, he lived many years after eating from it.
8- Scholars held different opinions regarding what the Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, did with that Jewish woman. Some viewed that he, peace and blessing be upon him, pardoned her. Some others said that he, peace and blessing be upon him, executed her. Scholars said: “To reconcile these reports and opinions, he, peace and blessing be upon him, did not execute her when Allaah The Almighty informed him with what she did and protected him from her evil. It was said to him: “Execute her.” He, peace and blessing be upon him, said: “No.” However, when Bishr ibn Al-Baraa’ died from it, he gave her to his relatives and they executed her as a Qisaas (i.e. equitable retribution) for him (i.e. Bishr ibn Al-Baraa’). Accordingly, the opinion that sees that he, peace and blessing be upon him, did not execute her immediately is correct and the other opinion that sees that he, peace and blessing be upon him, executed her afterwards is correct. Allaah Knows best.

(1) Reported in Saheeh Al-Bukhaari No. (3169) and Saheeh Muslim (5835).
(2) An-Nawawi; Sharh Saheeh Muslim (14/319) and Fat-h Al-Baari by Ibn Hajar (16/315) and ‘Umdatul Al-Qaari’ Sharh Saheeh Al-Bukhaair (22/373).