The Book of Cutting off the Hand of the Thief

Ibn Umar reported that a woman used to borrow jewelry from people and keep it. The Messenger of Allah said, “Let this woman repent to Allah and His Messenger and return what she took from the people.” Then he said, “Bilal, get up, take her hand, and cut it off.”

Nafi reported that a woman used to borrow jewelry in the time of the Messenger of Allah. She borrowed jewelry, gathered it together, and kept it. The Messenger of Allah repeatedly told her, “Let this woman repent and return what she has.” She did not do so, and he ordered that her hand be cut off.

Jabir reported that a woman from Banu Makhzum stole something and was brought to the Prophet. She sought the protection of Umm Salamah. The Prophet said, “If Fatimah daughter of Muhammad were to steal, I would cut off her hand.” Then her hand was cut off.

Said ibn al-Musayyab reported that a woman from Banu Makhzum borrowed jewelry on behalf of some people, then denied it. The Prophet ordered that her hand be cut off.

Dawud ibn Abi Asim reported a similar account from Said ibn al-Musayyab.

Sufyan said that a woman from Banu Makhzum used to borrow property and then deny it. She was brought to the Messenger of Allah, and people interceded for her. He said, “If it were Fatimah, I would cut off her hand.” When asked who had told him this report, he said, “Ayyub ibn Musa, from az-Zuhri, from Urwah, from Aishah, if Allah Most High wills.”

Amr ibn Shuayb reported from his father and grandfather that the Prophet said, “Overlook prescribed punishments before you bring the case to me. Once a case involving a prescribed punishment reaches me, that punishment becomes binding.”

Abdullah ibn Amr reported that the Messenger of Allah said, “Overlook prescribed offenses among yourselves. Once a case reaches me, its prescribed punishment becomes binding.”

Aishah reported that a woman from Banu Makhzum used to borrow goods and deny having done so. The Prophet ordered that her hand be cut off.

Ibn Umar reported that a woman from Banu Makhzum used to borrow goods, claiming that her neighbors needed them, and then deny it. The Messenger of Allah ordered that her hand be cut off.

Aishah reported that a woman borrowed jewelry through people who were known while she herself was unknown. She sold it and kept the money. She was brought to the Messenger of Allah, and her family asked Usamah ibn Zayd to intercede. He spoke to the Messenger of Allah, whose face changed. He said, “Are you interceding with me regarding one of the prescribed punishments of Allah?” Usamah asked him to seek forgiveness for him. That evening the Messenger of Allah stood, praised Allah as He deserves, and said, “The people before you were destroyed because when a noble person among them stole, they left him alone, but when a weak person stole, they applied the prescribed punishment. By the One in whose hand is the soul of Muhammad, if Fatimah daughter of Muhammad stole, I would cut off her hand.” Then he had that woman hand cut off.

Aishah reported that a Qurayshi woman from Banu Makhzum stole something and was brought to the Prophet. People asked who would speak to him about her, then suggested Usamah ibn Zayd. He spoke to the Prophet, who rebuked him and said, “The Children of Israel were destroyed because when a noble person among them committed a prescribed offense, they left him alone, but when a low-status person did so, they enforced the punishment. By the One in whose hand is my soul, if Fatimah daughter of Muhammad stole, I would cut off her hand.”

Aishah reported that a thief was brought to the Prophet, who had her hand cut off. People said, “We did not think the matter would go this far.” He said, “If it were Fatimah, I would cut off her hand.”

Aishah reported that a woman stole during the time of the Messenger of Allah. People said they could not speak to him about her and that only his beloved Usamah ibn Zayd would dare. Usamah spoke to him. The Messenger of Allah said, “The people before you were destroyed by this: when a noble person stole, they left him alone, but when a low-status person stole, they cut off his hand. If Fatimah daughter of Muhammad stole, I would cut off her hand.”

Aishah reported that a woman from Banu Makhzum borrowed jewelry through people whose identities were known, while she herself was unknown, then sold it and kept the money. She was brought to the Messenger of Allah, and her family sought Usamah ibn Zayd to intercede. When he spoke to the Prophet, his face changed. He said, “Are you interceding regarding one of the prescribed punishments of Allah?” Usamah asked him to seek forgiveness for him. That evening, the Messenger of Allah stood, praised Allah as He deserves, and said, “The people before you were destroyed because when a noble person among them stole, they left him alone, but when a weak person stole, they enforced the prescribed punishment. By the One in whose hand is the soul of Muhammad, if Fatimah daughter of Muhammad stole, I would cut off her hand.” Then he had the woman hand cut off.

Urwah ibn az-Zubayr told az-Zuhri that a woman stole during the time of the Messenger of Allah, in the year of the Conquest. Her people sought Usamah ibn Zayd to intercede. When Usamah spoke to him, the Prophet face changed, and he said, “Are you speaking to me about one of the prescribed punishments of Allah?” Usamah asked him to seek forgiveness for him. That evening the Messenger of Allah stood to preach, praised Allah as He deserves, and said, “The people before you were destroyed because when a noble person stole, they left him alone, but when a weak person stole, they enforced the prescribed punishment. By the One in whose hand is the soul of Muhammad, if Fatimah daughter of Muhammad stole, I would cut off her hand.” He ordered that the woman hand be cut off. She repented sincerely afterward. Aishah said that she used to visit her, and Aishah would take her needs to the Messenger of Allah.

Abu Hurairah reported that enforcing a prescribed punishment in a land is better for its people than forty nights of rain.

Abdullah ibn Umar reported that the Messenger of Allah cut off a thief hand for stealing a shield valued at five dirhams. The narrator said, “That is how it was stated.”

Abdullah ibn Umar reported that the Messenger of Allah cut off a thief hand for stealing a shield valued at three dirhams. Abu Abd ar-Rahman (an-Nasai) said, “This is the correct version.”

Ibn Umar reported that the Messenger of Allah cut off a thief hand for stealing a shield that cost three dirhams.