46.

The Book of Cutting off the Hand of the Thief

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كتاب قطع السارق

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)’.’