Chapter: Cutting off the hand of a thief from the nobility and others; the prohibition of interceding with regard to Hudud punishments

Hadith 1688 Part A

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'A'isha reported that the Quraish had been anxious about the Makhzumi woman who had committed theft, and said

Who will speak to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) about her? They said: Who dare it, but Usama, the loved one of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)? So Usama spoke to him. Thereupon Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: Do you intercede regarding one of the punishments prescribed by Allah? He then stood up and addressed (people) saying: O people, those who have gone before you were destroyed, because if any one of high rank committed theft amongst them, they spared him; and it anyone of low rank committed theft, they inflicted the prescribed punishment upon him. By Allah, if Fatima, daughter of Muhammad, were to steal, I would have her hand cut off. In the hadith transmitted on the authority of Ibn Rumh (the words are):" Verily those before you perished."

Hadith 1688 Part B

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`A'isha, the wife of Allah's Apostle (ﷺ), reported that the Quraish were concerned about the woman who had committed theft during the lifetime of Allah's Apostle (ﷺ), in the expedition of Victory (of Mecca). They said

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).

Hadith 1688 Part C

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'A'isha reported that a woman from the tribe of Makhzum used to borrow things (from people) and then denied (having taken them). Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) commanded her hand to be cut off. Her relatives came to Usama b. Zaid and spoke to him (requesting him to intercede on her behalf). He spoke to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) about her. The rest of the hadith is the same.

Hadith 1689 Part B

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Jaibir reported that a woman from the tribe of Makhzum committed theft. She was brought to Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) and she sought refuge (intercession) from Umm Salama, the wife of Allah's Apostle (ﷺ). Thereupon Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) said

By Allah, even if she were Fatima, I would have her hand cut off. And thus her hand was cut off.