46.

The Book of Cutting off the Hand of the Thief

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كتاب قطع السارق

Jabir (رضي الله تعالى عنه) narrated, ‘the hand of the traitor is not to be cut off.’ Imam Abu Abdur-Rahman (An-Nasai) said, ‘Ashath bin Sawwar (one of its narrators) is weak.’

Al-Harith bin Hatib (رضي الله تعالى عنه) narrated that a thief was brought to the Apostle of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) and he said, ‘kill him.’ They said, ‘O Apostle of Allah ( صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم), he only stole (something).’ He said, ‘kill him.’ They said, ‘O Apostle of Allah ( صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم), he only stole (something).’ He said, ‘cut off his hand.’ Then he stole again, and his foot was cut off. Then he stole at the time of Abu Bakr (رضي الله تعالى عنه), until all his extremities had been cut off. Then he stole a fifth time, and Abu Bakr (رضي الله تعالى عنه) said, ‘the Apostle of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) knew better about him when he said, ‘kill him’.’ Then he handed him over to some young men of Quraish to kill him, among whom was Abdullah bin Az-Zubair (رضئ هللا تعالی عنہ) who liked to be in a position of leadership. He said, ‘put me in charge of them,’ so they put him in charge of them and when he struck him, they would strike him, until they killed him.’