"Urwah bin Az-Zubair told me that a woman stole at the time of the Messenger of Allah, during the Conquest. Her people went to Uswamah bin Zaid, to ask him to intercede." 'Urwah said: "When Usamah spoke to him concerning her, the face of the Messenger of Allah changed color and he said: 'Are you speaking to me concerning one of the Hadd punishments of Allah?" Usamah said: 'Pray to Allah for forgiveness for me, O Messenger of Allah.' When evening came, the Messenger of Allah stood up to deliver a speech. He praised Allah 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 were to steal, I would cut off her hand.' Then the Messenger of Allah ordered that the hand of that woman be cut off. After that she repented sincerely, and 'Aishah said: 'She used to come to me after that, and I would convey her needs to the Messenger of Allah."'
The Book of Cutting off the Hand of the Thief - Sunan an-Nasa'i 4903
This narration from Sunan an-Nasa'i demonstrates the absolute justice and divine nature of Islamic penal code, where no individual, regardless of status, receives preferential treatment before Allah's prescribed limits.
Divine Justice Transcends Worldly Status
The Prophet's changed countenance upon Usamah's intercession reveals the gravity of interfering in Allah's prescribed punishments. The Hadd punishments are divine rights that cannot be suspended for worldly considerations.
His declaration concerning his own daughter Fatimah establishes that Islamic justice applies equally to all, eliminating any notion of aristocracy or privileged immunity before the law.
Spiritual Wisdom Behind the Punishment
The implementation of the punishment served as both a worldly consequence and spiritual purification. The woman's subsequent sincere repentance and continued connection to the Prophet's household demonstrates how divine punishment can lead to spiritual rehabilitation.
Aishah's ongoing assistance shows the community's responsibility to support repentant sinners in their rehabilitation, separating the sin from the sinner in their humanity.
Scholarly Observations
Classical scholars emphasize that this incident occurred during the Conquest of Mecca, a period of mass conversions, making the establishment of divine justice crucial for the new Islamic social order.
The narration establishes that intercession in Hudud punishments is prohibited, as these are rights of Allah meant to preserve societal security and divine justice.