Who would speak to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) about her? They (again) said: Who can dare do this but Usama b. Zaid, the loved one of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)? She was brought to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and Usama b. Zaid spoke about her to him (interceded on her behalf). The color of the face of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) changed, and he said: Do you intercede in one of the prescribed punishments of Allah? He (Usama) said: 'Messenger of Allah, seek forgiveness for me.' When it was dusk. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) stood up and gave an address. He (first) glorified Allah as He deserves, and then said: Now to our topic. This (injustice) destroyed those before you that when any one of (high) rank committed theft among them, they spared him, and when any weak one among them committed theft, they inflicted the prescribed punishment upon him. By Him in Whose Hand is my life, even if Fatima daughter of Muhammad were to commit theft, I would have cut off her hand. He (the Holy Prophet) then commanded about that woman who had committed theft, and her hand was cut off. `A'isha (further) said: Hers was a good repentance, and she later on married and used to come to me after that, and I conveyed her needs (and problems) to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ).
The Book of Legal Punishments
Sahih Muslim 1688 b
Contextual Background
This narration concerns a woman from the Makhzum tribe who committed theft. Her people sought intercession through Usama ibn Zaid, the beloved companion of the Prophet ﷺ, hoping his status might secure leniency.
Divine Justice Above Personal Affection
The Prophet's ﷺ face changed color upon receiving intercession, demonstrating grave displeasure. His rhetorical question "Do you intercede in one of the prescribed punishments of Allah?" establishes that Hudud punishments are divine rights not subject to human mediation.
Equal Application of Islamic Law
The Prophet ﷺ explicitly declared that previous nations were destroyed because they applied laws selectively - sparing elites while punishing commoners. His oath that even Fatima (his daughter) would receive the same punishment establishes absolute equality before Islamic law.
Spiritual Consequences & Repentance
The woman's subsequent good repentance and marriage demonstrate that prescribed punishments purify sins when accepted with faith. Her continued contact with Aisha shows the community's responsibility to support repentant sinners in their spiritual rehabilitation.