In another narration from him, through al-Masʿudi, from al-Qasim and al-Hasan ibn Saʿd, through the same chain.

This hadith has already been mentioned under no. 25 for the sake of another passage. I have repeated it here in order to add something to its documentation and to cite a corroborating report with the wording:

“No not punish with Allah’s punishment.”

Ahmad recorded it (1/219–220): Sufyan narrated to us, from Ayyub, from ʿIkrimah, from Ibn ʿAbbas, who said: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said—and he then cited it.

I say: This chain of transmission is authentic according to al-Bukhari’s conditions. Al-Bukhari recorded it in his Sahih (4/329), as did al-Tirmidhi (1/275), al-Nasaʾi (2/170), and Ahmad as well (1/217, 282); Abu Dawud (4351) and al-Daraqutni (334) also narrated it from him, through other routes from Ayyub, from ʿIkrimah:

“ʿAli burned some people who had apostatized from Islam. When news of this reached Ibn ʿAbbas, he said: ‘Had it been I, I would have killed them, because of the saying of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him: Whoever changes his religion, kill him. But I would not have burned them, because of the saying of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him: Do not punish with Allah’s punishment.’ When this reached ʿAli, he said: ‘Ibn ʿAbbas spoke the truth.’”

The wording is that of al-Tirmidhi, who said: “A good, authentic hadith.”

Al-Bukhari does not include the statement, “Do not punish with Allah’s punishment”; rather, his wording is:

“… Had it been I, I would not have burned them, because of the prohibition of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him. I would have killed them …”

In a narration of Ahmad—which is also the narration of al-Daraqutni, who said, “It is sound and authentic”—ʿAli said, “How admirable is Ibn Umm ʿAbbas!” instead of, “Ibn ʿAbbas spoke the truth.”

There is no contradiction between the two narrations, for the expression wayḥ conveys compassion and distress, and may also be used to express praise and amazement, as stated in al-Nihayah. Here it plainly bears the latter meaning.