The Hadith (A group killing one person results in all facing Qisas) is a controversial and well-discussed narrative in Islamic law.
No. The standard verse (Quran 5:45) establishes Qisas. Hadith 37157 addresses a loophole: If a group kills one, do they escape because "the crime was too big for one punishment?" The Prophet closed that loophole.
To determine the authoritative weight of the narration, we must examine the reliability of the narrators. musannaf ibn abi shaybah 37157
Conclusion on Authenticity: The chain is fully connected (muttasil) and consists of reliable narrators. It meets the criteria for a Hasan (good) or Sahih (authentic) transmission, granting the text authoritative weight in theological discourse.
The primary text of Hadith 37157 is recorded as follows: The Hadith (A group killing one person results
Arabic: حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ عَوْنِ بْنِ أَبِي جُحَيْفَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ: قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ: "إِنَّمَا هُوَ الْقُرْآنُ، فَمَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ أَنْ يَقْرَأَهُ فَلْيَفْعَلْ، فَإِنَّمَا الْهُدَى هُدَى اللَّهِ، وَالضَّلاَلَةُ ضَلاَلَةُ اللَّهِ".
Translation: Ali ibn Muslim narrated to us, saying: Sufyan narrated to us, from Awn ibn Abi Juhayfah, from his father, who said: Abdullah (ibn Mas'ud) said: "It is only the Quran. Whoever is able to recite it, let him do so, for guidance is the guidance of Allah, and error is the error of Allah." Conclusion on Authenticity: The chain is fully connected
(Note: Variations of this statement are found in other collections, often linked to the concept that the Quran is the ultimate arbiter of truth, and that the ability to follow it is not merely a human feat but a divine grant.)
Let’s examine what the great Imams of Jarh wa Ta’dil (criticism and validation) said about the chain of 37157:
Caution for Researchers: Do not quote Musannaf 37157 as "Sahih." Instead, say: “Narrated with a weak chain in Ibn Abi Shaybah (37157), but the Hadith is authentically established elsewhere.”
What makes Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah invaluable is the preservation of the Isnad. For Hadith 37157, the chain typically follows (verification depends on the exact print, but it traces through a major route):