"Al-Ashtar and I went to 'Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, and said: Did the Prophet of Allah tell you anything that he did not tell to all the people?' He said: 'No, except what is in this letter of mine.' He brought out a letter from the sheath of his sword and it said therein: "The lives of the believers are equal in value, and they are one against others, and they hasten to support the asylum granted by the least of them. But no believer may be killed in return for a disbeliever, nor one with a covenant while his convenant is in effect. Whoever commits an offense then the blame is on himself, and whoever gives sanctuary to an offender, then upon him will be the curse of Allah, the angels and all the people."  

انْطَلَقْتُ أَنَا وَالأَشْتَرُ إِلَى عَلِيٍّ ؓ فَقُلْنَا هَلْ عَهِدَ إِلَيْكَ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ ﷺ شَيْئًا لَمْ يَعْهَدْهُ إِلَى النَّاسِ عَامَّةً قَالَ لاَ إِلاَّ مَا كَانَ فِي كِتَابِي هَذَا فَأَخْرَجَ كِتَابًا مِنْ قِرَابِ سَيْفِهِ فَإِذَا فِيهِ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ تَكَافَأُ دِمَاؤُهُمْ وَهُمْ يَدٌ عَلَى مَنْ سِوَاهُمْ وَيَسْعَى بِذِمَّتِهِمْ أَدْنَاهُمْ أَلاَ لاَ يُقْتَلُ مُؤْمِنٌ بِكَافِرٍ وَلاَ ذُو عَهْدٍ بِعَهْدِهِ مَنْ أَحْدَثَ حَدَثًا فَعَلَى نَفْسِهِ أَوْ آوَى مُحْدِثًا فَعَلَيْهِ لَعْنَةُ اللَّهِ وَالْمَلاَئِكَةِ وَالنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ  

"The lives of the believers are equal in value, and they are one against others, and they hasten to support the asylum granted by the least of them. But no believer may be killed in return for a disbeliever, nor one with a covenant while his covenant is in effect."  

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ قَالَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ تَكَافَأُ دِمَاؤُهُمْ وَهُمْ يَدٌ عَلَى مَنْ سِوَاهُمْ يَسْعَى بِذِمَّتِهِمْ أَدْنَاهُمْ لاَ يُقْتَلُ مُؤْمِنٌ بِكَافِرٍ وَلاَ ذُو عَهْدٍ فِي عَهْدِهِ  

"Ali said: 'The Messenger of Allah did not tell me anything that he did not tell the people, except what is in a sheet in the sheath of my word.' They did not leave him alone until he brought out the sheet, and in it (were the words): 'The lives of the believers are equal in value, and they hasten to support the asylum granted by the least of them, and they are one against others. But no believer may be killed in return for a disbeliever, nor one with a covenant while his covenant is in effect."  

عَلِيٌّ مَا عَهِدَ إِلَىَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ بِشَىْءٍ دُونَ النَّاسِ إِلاَّ فِي صَحِيفَةٍ فِي قِرَابِ سَيْفِي فَلَمْ يَزَالُوا بِهِ حَتَّى أَخْرَجَ الصَّحِيفَةَ فَإِذَا فِيهَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ تَكَافَأُ دِمَاؤُهُمْ يَسْعَى بِذِمَّتِهِمْ أَدْنَاهُمْ وَهُمْ يَدٌ عَلَى مَنْ سِوَاهُمْ لاَ يُقْتَلُ مُؤْمِنٌ بِكَافِرٍ وَلاَ ذُو عَهْدٍ فِي عَهْدِهِ  

"What the people have been hearing from you has become widespread. If the Messenger of Allah told you anything, then tell us," He said: "The Messenger of Allah did not tell me anything that he did not tell the people, except that in the sheath of my sword there is a sheet, in which it says: 'The lives of the believers are equal in value, and they hasten to support the asylum granted by the least of them. But no believer may be killed in return for a disbeliever, nor one with a covenant while his covenant is in effect."' It is an abridgement of it.  

أَنَّهُ قَالَ لِعَلِيٍّ إِنَّ النَّاسَ قَدْ تَفَشَّغَ بِهِمْ مَا يَسْمَعُونَ فَإِنْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَهِدَ إِلَيْكَ عَهْدًا فَحَدِّثْنَا بِهِ قَالَ مَا عَهِدَ إِلَىَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَهْدًا لَمْ يَعْهَدْهُ إِلَى النَّاسِ غَيْرَ أَنَّ فِي قِرَابِ سَيْفِي صَحِيفَةً فَإِذَا فِيهَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ تَتَكَافَأُ دِمَاؤُهُمْ يَسْعَى بِذِمَّتِهِمْ أَدْنَاهُمْ لاَ يُقْتَلُ مُؤْمِنٌ بِكَافِرٍ وَلاَ ذُو عَهْدٍ فِي عَهْدِهِ مُخْتَصَرٌ  

I and Ashtar went to Ali and said to him: Did the Messenger of Allah ﷺ give you any instruction about anything for which he did not give any instruction to the people in general? He said: No, except what is contained in this document of mine. Musaddad said: He then took out a document. Ahmad said: A document from the sheath of his sword. It contained: The lives of all Muslims are equal; they are one hand against others; the lowliest of them can guarantee their protection. Beware, a Muslim must not be killed for an infidel, nor must one who has been given a covenant be killed while his covenant holds. If anyone introduces an innovation, he will be responsible for it. If anyone introduces an innovation or gives shelter to a man who introduces an innovation (in religion), he is cursed by Allah, by His angels, and by all the people. Musaddad said: Ibn AbuUrubah's version has: He took out a document.  

انْطَلَقْتُ أَنَا وَالأَشْتَرُ إِلَى عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ فَقُلْنَا هَلْ عَهِدَ إِلَيْكَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ شَيْئًا لَمْ يَعْهَدْهُ إِلَى النَّاسِ عَامَّةً قَالَ لاَ إِلاَّ مَا فِي كِتَابِي هَذَا قَالَ مُسَدَّدٌ قَالَ فَأَخْرَجَ كِتَابًا وَقَالَ أَحْمَدُ كِتَابًا مِنْ قِرَابِ سَيْفِهِ فَإِذَا فِيهِ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ تَكَافَأُ دِمَاؤُهُمْ وَهُمْ يَدٌ عَلَى مَنْ سِوَاهُمْ وَيَسْعَى بِذِمَّتِهِمْ أَدْنَاهُمْ أَلاَ لاَ يُقْتَلُ مُؤْمِنٌ بِكَافِرٍ وَلاَ ذُو عَهْدٍ فِي عَهْدِهِ مَنْ أَحْدَثَ حَدَثًا فَعَلَى نَفْسِهِ وَمَنْ أَحْدَثَ حَدَثًا أَوْ آوَى مُحْدِثًا فَعَلَيْهِ لَعْنَةُ اللَّهِ وَالْمَلاَئِكَةِ وَالنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ قَالَ مُسَدَّدٌ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عَرُوبَةَ فَأَخْرَجَ كِتَابًا  

ʿThe believers are equal in respect of blood and they are one against their enemies; protection given even by the least among them is to be honoured, but no believer is to be killed (in retaliation) for a disbeliever and no one who has a covenant is to be killed during the covenant.ʿ  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ قَالَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ تَكَافَأُ دِمَاؤُهُمْ وَهُمْ يَدٌ عَلَى مَنْ سِوَاهُمْ يَسْعَى بِذِمَّتِهِمْ أَدْنَاهُمْ أَلا لَا يُقْتَلُ مُؤْمِنٌ بِكَافِرٍ وَلا ذُو عَهْدٍ فِي عَهْدِهِ  

I set out with al-Ashtar to go to ‘Ali ؓ . We said: Did the Prophet of Allah ﷺ tell you something that he did not tell to all the people? He said: No, except what is in this document. He [the narrator] said: A document in the sheath of this sword. In it was said: “The believers are equal in respect of blood and they are one against their enemies; protection given even by the least among them is to be honoured, but no believer is to be killed (in retaliation) for a disbeliever and no one who has a covenant is to be killed during the covenant. Whoever commits an offence or gives refuge to an offender, upon him be the curse of Allah, the angels and all the people.ʿ  

انْطَلَقْتُ أَنَا وَالْأَشْتَرُ إِلَى عَلِيٍّ فَقُلْنَا هَلْ عَهِدَ إِلَيْكَ نَبِيُّ اللهِ ﷺ شَيْئًا لَمْ يَعْهَدْهُ إِلَى النَّاسِ عَامَّةً؟ قَالَ لَا إِلا مَا فِي كِتَابِي هَذَا قَالَ وَكِتَابٌ فِي قِرَابِ سَيْفِهِ فَإِذَا فِيهِ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ تَكَافَأُ دِمَاؤُهُمْ وَهُمْ يَدٌ عَلَى مَنْ سِوَاهُمْ وَيَسْعَى بِذِمَّتِهِمْ أَدْنَاهُمْ أَلا لَا يُقْتَلُ مُؤْمِنٌ بِكَافِرٍ وَلا ذُو عَهْدٍ فِي عَهْدِهِ مَنْ أَحْدَثَ حَدَثًا أَوْ آوَى مُحْدِثًا فَعَلَيْهِ لَعْنَةُ اللهِ وَالْمَلائِكَةِ وَالنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ  

ʿThe believers are equal in respect of blood and they are one against their enemies; protection given even by the least among them is to be honoured, but no believer is to be killed (in retaliation) for a disbeliever and no one who has a covenant is to be killed during the covenant.ʿ (Using translation from Aḥmad 991)  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ قَالَ «الْمُؤْمِنُونَ تَكَافَأُ دِمَاؤُهُمْ وَهُمْ يَدٌ عَلَى مَنْ سِوَاهُمْ يَسْعَى بِذِمَّتِهِمْ أَدْنَاهُمْ لَا يُقْتَلُ مُؤْمِنٌ بِكَافِرٍ وَلَا ذُو عَهْدٍ فِي عَهْدِهِ»  

[Machine] I entered with Ashtar to Ali ibn Abi Talib on the Day of the Camel, and I said, "Did the Messenger of Allah make a covenant with you separate from the general one?" He said, "No, except for this." Then he pulled out his sword from its sheath, and there were the believers on it, [promising that] their blood would be rewarded, their rights protected, and they would have authority over those other than them. A believer should not be killed by a disbeliever, nor should someone with a covenant be killed during his covenant.  

دَخَلْتُ أَنَا وَالْأَشْتَرُ عَلَى عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ ؓ يَوْمَ الْجَمَلِ فَقُلْتُ هَلْ عَهِدَ إِلَيْكَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ عَهْدًا دُونَ الْعَامَّةِ؟ فَقَالَ لَا إِلَّا هَذَا وَأَخْرَجَ مِنْ قِرَابِ سَيْفِهِ فَإِذَا فِيهَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ تَكَافَأُ دِمَاؤُهُمْ يَسْعَى بِذِمَّتِهِمْ أَدْنَاهُمْ وَهُمْ يَدٌ عَلَى مَنْ سِوَاهُمْ لَا يُقْتَلُ مُؤْمِنٌ بِكَافِرٍ وَلَا ذُو عَهْدٍ فِي عَهْدِهِ  

I set out with al-Ashtar to go to ‘Ali ؓ . We said: Did the Prophet of Allah ﷺ tell you something that he did not tell to all the people? He said: No, except what is in this document. He [the narrator] said: A document in the sheath of this sword. In it was said: “The believers are equal in respect of blood and they are one against their enemies; protection given even by the least among them is to be honoured, but no believer is to be killed (in retaliation) for a disbeliever and no one who has a covenant is to be killed during the covenant. Whoever commits an offence or gives refuge to an offender, upon him be the curse of Allah, the angels and all the people.ʿ (Using translation from Aḥmad 993)   

أَتَيْنَا عَلِيًّا ؓ أَنَا وَجَارِيَةُ بْنُ قُدَامَةَ السَّعْدِيُّ فَقُلْنَا هَلْ مَعَكَ عَهْدٌ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ؟ فَقَالَ لَا إِلَّا مَا فِي قِرَابِ سَيْفِي فَأَخْرَجَ لَنَا مِنْهُ كِتَابًا فَقَرَأَهُ فَإِذَا فِيهِ الْمُسْلِمُونَ تَتَكَافَأُ دِمَاؤُهُمْ وَيَسْعَى بِذِمَّتِهِمْ أَدْنَاهُمْ وَهُمْ يَدٌ عَلَى مَنْ سِوَاهُمْ أَلَا لَا يُقْتَلُ مُسْلِمٌ بِكَافِرٍ وَلَا ذُو عَهْدٍ فِي عَهْدِهِ إِلَّا مَنْ أَحْدَثَ حَدَثًا أَوْ آوَى مُحْدِثًا فَعَلَيْهِ لَعْنَةُ اللهِ وَالْمَلَائِكَةِ وَالنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ  

"عَنْ قَيْسِ بْنِ عَبَّادٍ قَالَ: انْطَلقْتُ أَنَا وَالأشْتَرُ إِلَى على فَقُلنَا: هَلْ عَهِدَ إِلَيْكَ رَسُولُ الله ﷺ شَيْئًا لَمْ يَعْهَدْهُ إِلَى الناسِ عَامَةً؟ فَالَ: لاَ. إِلا مَا فِى كِتَابى هَذَا فَأخْرجَ كِتَابا مِنْ قِرَابِ سَيْفِهِ، فَإِذَا فِيهِ "المُؤْمِنُونَ تَتَكَافَأُ دِمَاؤهُمْ، وَهُمْ يَدٌ عَلَى مَنْ سِوَاهُمْ، وَيَسْعَى بِذِمتِهِمْ أَدْنَاهُمْ، أَلاَ لاَ يُقْتَلُ مُؤْمِن بِكَافِرٍ، وَلاَ ذُو عَهْدٍ فِى عَهْدِهِ، مَنْ أحْدَثَ حَدَثا فَعَلَى نَفْسِهِ، وَمَنْ أَحْدَثَ حَدثًا، أَوْ آوَى مُحْدِثًا فَعَليْهِ لَعْنَةُ الله وَالمَلائِكَةِ وَالنَّاسِ أجْمَعِينَ، لاَ يُقْبَلُ مِنْهُ صَرْف وَلاَ عَدْلٌ".  

"عن قَيْسِ بْنِ عَبَّادٍ قَالَ: دَخَلْتُ عَلَى عَلِىٍّ يَوْمَ الْجَمَلِ فَقُلْتُ: هَل عَهِدَ إِلَيْكَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ عَهْدًا دُونَ الْعَامَةِ؟ قال: لَا! إِلَّا هَذَا وَأَخْرَجَ مِنْ قُرَابِ سَيْفِهِ صَحِيفَةً فَإِذَا فِيهَا المُؤْمِنُونَ تَتَكَافَأُ دِمَاؤُهُمْ تَسْعَى بَيْنَ أَيْدِيِهمْ وَهُمْ يَدٌ عَلَى مَنْ سِوَاهُمْ، لَا يُقْتَلُ مُؤْمِنٌ بِكَافِرٍ، وَلَا ذُو عَهْدٍ فِي عَهْدِهِ".