Some people of ‘Ukl or ‘Urainah’ came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and found Madinah unhealthy. So the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) ordered them to go to the camels (of the sadaqah) and ordered them to drink some of their urine and milk. They went there when they became well, they killed the herdsman of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and drove off the camels. The news about them reached the prophet (ﷺ) early in the morning. So he sent people in pursuit of them, and they were brought when they day had risen high. He ordered and their hands and feet were cut off and nails were drawn into their eyes, and they were thrown out of Harrah. They begged for water but were not supplied water. Abu Qilabah said: They were people who had stolen, killed, apostatized after their faith and fought against Allah and his Apostle (ﷺ).
Prescribed Punishments (Kitab Al-Hudud)
Sunan Abi Dawud 4364
Hadith Context
This narration describes the incident involving the tribe of 'Ukl or 'Urainah who came to Medina seeking treatment. The Prophet (ﷺ) prescribed camel urine and milk as medicinal treatment according to Bedouin medical knowledge of that era.
Scholarly Commentary
The severe punishment was not merely for theft but for multiple capital crimes: murder of an innocent herdsman, highway robbery, apostasy from Islam after having accepted it, and waging war against Allah and His Messenger. Classical scholars emphasize this was a combined punishment for multiple hudud crimes.
Islamic jurists explain that the cutting of limbs from opposite sides (right hand and left foot) follows the established punishment for highway robbery when accompanied by murder. The additional elements were specific to this case due to their extreme treachery after receiving the Prophet's kindness.
Legal Principles
This case demonstrates that Islamic punishments consider the totality of crimes committed. The denial of water was part of the execution process, not additional punishment. Scholars note this specific case doesn't establish general precedent but rather addresses particular circumstances of betrayal and multiple capital offenses.