46.

The Book of Cutting off the Hand of the Thief

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كتاب قطع السارق

Ummul Momineen Aishah (رضي الله تعالى عنها) narrated that a woman stole at the time of the Apostle of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم), during the Conquest, and she was brought to the Apostle of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم). Usamah bin Zaid (رضي الله تعالى عنه) spoke to him concerning her. But when he spoke to him, the face of the Apostle of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) changed color, and the Apostle of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said, ‘are you interceding concerning one of the Hadd punishment decreed by Allah?’ Usamah (رضي الله تعالى عنه) said to him, ‘O Apostle of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم), I ask Allah to forgive me!’ When evening came, the Apostle of Allah ( صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) stood up and praised and glorified Allah (جَلَّ ذُو) , as He deserves, then he said, ‘the people who came before you were destroyed because whenever a noble person among them stole, they would let him go. But if one who was weak stole, they would carry out the Hadd punishment on him.’ Then he said, ‘By the One in whose hand is my soul, if Fatimah bint Muhammad (رضي الله تعالى عنها) were to steal, I would cut off her hand.’

Az-Zuhri narrated, ‘Urwah bin Az-Zubair (رضي الله تعالى عنه) told me that a woman stole at the time of the Apostle of Allah ( صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم), during the Conquest. Her people went to Usamah bin Zaid (رضي الله تعالى عنه), to ask him to intercede.’ 'Urwah (رضي الله تعالى عنه) said, ‘when Usamah ( رضي الله تعالى عنه) spoke to him concerning her, the face of the Apostle of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) changed color and he said, ‘are you speaking to me concerning one of the Hadd punishments of Allah?’ Usamah (رضي الله تعالى عنه) said, ‘Pray to Allah for forgiveness for me, O Apostle of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم).’ When evening came, the Apostle of Allah ( صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) stood up to deliver a speech. He praised Allah (جَلَّ ذُو) as He deserves, then he said, ‘the people who came before you were destroyed because, whenever a noble person among them stole, they would carry out the Hadd punishment on him. By the One in whose hand is my soul, if Fatimah bint Muhammad (رضي الله تعالى عنها) were to steal, I would cut off her hand.’ Then the Apostle of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) ordered that the hand of that woman be cut off. After that she repented sincerely, and Ummul Momineen Aishah (رضي الله تعالى عنها) said, ‘she used to come to me after that, and I would convey her needs to the Apostle of Allah ( صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم)’.’

Abu Hurairah (رضي الله تعالى عنه) narrated that the Apostle of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said, ‘a Hadd punishment that is carried out on earth is better for the people of earth than if it were to rain for thirty mornings.’

Abu Zurah narrated that Abu Hurairah (رضي الله تعالى عنه) said, ‘carrying out a Hadd punishment in a land is better for its people than if it were to rain for forty nights.’

Abdullah bin Amr (رضي الله تعالى عنه) narrated, ‘the Apostle of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) cut off (a thief's hand) for a shield which was worth five Durham's.’ This is how he (the narrator) said it.

Abdullah bin Umar (رضي الله تعالى عنه) narrated, ‘the Apostle of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) cut off (a thief's hand) for a shield which was worth three Dirham.’ Imam Abu Abdur-Rahman (An-Nasai) said, ‘this is correct.’

Ibn Umar (رضي الله تعالى عنه) narrated, ‘the Apostle of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) cut off (a thief's hand) for a shield which cost three Dirhams.’

Abdullah bin Umar (رضي الله تعالى عنه) narrated, ‘the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) cut off the hand of a thief, who stole a shield, from a portico allocated to women, the price of which was three Dirhams.’