What is Sunan an-Nasa'i 4986 about?

This hadith from Sunan an-Nasa'i (Book of The Book of Cutting off the Hand of the Thief), narrated by It was narrated from Al-Harith bin Hatib that a thief was brought to the Messenger of Allah and he said:, states: ""Kill him." They said: "O Messenger of Allah, he only stole (something)." He said: "Kill him." They said: "O Messenger of Allah, he only stole (something)." He said: "Cut off his hand." Then he stole…"

Which collection is this hadith from?

This hadith is from Sunan an-Nasa'i, which contains 5,768 hadiths across 52 books. It is hadith number 4986 in the Book of The Book of Cutting off the Hand of the Thief.

I searched for a different number — is this the right hadith?

Hadith numbering varies across editions and translations (USC-MSA, Dar as-Salam, Fath al-Bari, and others). If you followed a link citing a different number but landed here, you may have been redirected to the canonical version in our library. If you were looking for a different hadith entirely, use the search bar to find it by text.

‹

#4985

#4986

Sunan an-Nasa'i

#4987

›

Sunan an-Nasa'i #4986

The Book of Cutting off the Hand of the Thief

The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.

أَخْبَرَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ سَلْمٍ الْمَصَاحِفِيُّ الْبَلْخِيُّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا النَّضْرُ بْنُ شُمَيْلٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادٌ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا يُوسُفُ، عَنِ الْحَارِثِ بْنِ حَاطِبٍ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أُتِيَ بِلِصٍّ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ اقْتُلُوهُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ فَقَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّمَا سَرَقَ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ اقْتُلُوهُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّمَا سَرَقَ ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ اقْطَعُوا يَدَهُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ ثُمَّ سَرَقَ فَقُطِعَتْ رِجْلُهُ ثُمَّ سَرَقَ عَلَى عَهْدِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ رضى الله عنه حَتَّى قُطِعَتْ قَوَائِمُهُ كُلُّهَا ثُمَّ سَرَقَ أَيْضًا الْخَامِسَةَ فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ رضى الله عنه كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهُ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَعْلَمَ بِهَذَا حِينَ قَالَ ‏"‏ اقْتُلُوهُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ ثُمَّ دَفَعَهُ إِلَى فِتْيَةٍ مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ لِيَقْتُلُوهُ مِنْهُمْ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الزُّبَيْرِ - وَكَانَ يُحِبُّ الإِمَارَةَ - فَقَالَ أَمِّرُونِي عَلَيْكُمْ ‏.‏ فَأَمَّرُوهُ عَلَيْهِمْ فَكَانَ إِذَا ضَرَبَ ضَرَبُوهُ حَتَّى قَتَلُوهُ ‏.‏

"Kill him." They said: "O Messenger of Allah, he only stole (something)." He said: "Kill him." They said: "O Messenger of Allah, he only stole (something)." He said: "Cut off his hand." Then he stole again, and his foot was cut off. Then he stole at the time of Abu Bakr, untilo all his extremities had been cut off. Then he stole a fifth time, and Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, said: "The Messenger of Allah knew better about him when he said: 'Kill him."' Then he handed him over to some young men of Quraish to kill him, among whom was 'Abdullah bin Az-Zubair who liked to be in a position of leadership. He said: "Put me in charge of them," so they put him in charge of them and when he struck him, they would strike him, until they killed him.

Narrated by It was narrated from Al-Harith bin Hatib that a thief was brought to the Messenger of Allah and he said:

Context

In this hadith, a thief was brought to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, who initially commanded his execution. When the companions pointed out that the man had only stolen, the Prophet ﷺ modified his command to cutting off the thief's hand. This sequence continued until the thief had lost all his limbs. The hadith highlights the severity of theft and the consequences of repeated offenses.

Modern Application

In today's society, this hadith serves as a reminder of the importance of justice and accountability. While the context of punishment may differ, the underlying principle emphasizes the need for a legal system that addresses repeat offenses and deters crime through appropriate consequences.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Punishments (Hudud) because it discusses the prescribed penalties for theft and the consequences of repeated criminal behavior.

Punishments (Hudud)

Related Ayahs

سُورَةُ المَائـِدَةِ

Al-Maaida (The Table)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

2 ayahs

وَٱلسَّارِقُ وَٱلسَّارِقَةُ فَٱقْطَعُوٓا۟ أَيْدِيَهُمَا جَزَآءًۢ بِمَا كَسَبَا نَكَٰلًۭا مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌۭ

[As for] the thief, the male and the female, amputate their hands in recompense for what they committed as a deterrent [punishment] from Allah. And Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise.

إِنَّمَا جَزَٰٓؤُا۟ ٱلَّذِينَ يُحَارِبُونَ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ وَيَسْعَوْنَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَسَادًا أَن يُقَتَّلُوٓا۟ أَوْ يُصَلَّبُوٓا۟ أَوْ تُقَطَّعَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَأَرْجُلُهُم مِّنْ خِلَٰفٍ أَوْ يُنفَوْا۟ مِنَ ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ لَهُمْ خِزْىٌۭ فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَلَهُمْ فِى ٱلْءَاخِرَةِ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ

Indeed, the penalty for those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger and strive upon earth [to cause] corruption is none but that they be killed or crucified or that their hands and feet be cut off from opposite sides or that they be exiled from the land. That is for them a disgrace in this world; and for them in the Hereafter is a great punishment,

سُورَةُ طه

Taa-Haa (Taa-Haa)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

قَالَ ءَامَنتُمْ لَهُۥ قَبْلَ أَنْ ءَاذَنَ لَكُمْ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ لَكَبِيرُكُمُ ٱلَّذِى عَلَّمَكُمُ ٱلسِّحْرَ ۖ فَلَأُقَطِّعَنَّ أَيْدِيَكُمْ وَأَرْجُلَكُم مِّنْ خِلَٰفٍۢ وَلَأُصَلِّبَنَّكُمْ فِى جُذُوعِ ٱلنَّخْلِ وَلَتَعْلَمُنَّ أَيُّنَآ أَشَدُّ عَذَابًۭا وَأَبْقَىٰ

[Pharaoh] said, "You believed him before I gave you permission. Indeed, he is your leader who has taught you magic. So I will surely cut off your hands and your feet on opposite sides, and I will crucify you on the trunks of palm trees, and you will surely know which of us is more severe in [giving] punishment and more enduring."

سُورَةُ الأَعۡرَافِ

Al-A'raaf (The Heights)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

لَأُقَطِّعَنَّ أَيْدِيَكُمْ وَأَرْجُلَكُم مِّنْ خِلَٰفٍۢ ثُمَّ لَأُصَلِّبَنَّكُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ

I will surely cut off your hands and your feet on opposite sides; then I will surely crucify you all."

سُورَةُ الشُّعَرَاءِ

Ash-Shu'araa (The Poets)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

قَالَ ءَامَنتُمْ لَهُۥ قَبْلَ أَنْ ءَاذَنَ لَكُمْ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ لَكَبِيرُكُمُ ٱلَّذِى عَلَّمَكُمُ ٱلسِّحْرَ فَلَسَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ ۚ لَأُقَطِّعَنَّ أَيْدِيَكُمْ وَأَرْجُلَكُم مِّنْ خِلَٰفٍۢ وَلَأُصَلِّبَنَّكُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ

[Pharaoh] said, "You believed Moses before I gave you permission. Indeed, he is your leader who has taught you magic, but you are going to know. I will surely cut off your hands and your feet on opposite sides, and I will surely crucify you all."

Common Words

102 total67 unique23 repeated

من6x

فى4x

خلف4x

أن3x

أو3x

أيديكم3x

وأرجلكم3x

ٱلله2x

ٱلأرض2x

قال2x

ءامنتم2x

له2x

قبل2x

ءاذن2x

لكم2x

إنه2x

لكبيركم2x

ٱلذى2x

علمكم2x

ٱلسحر2x

Scroll to explore ayah details

Related Hadiths

About Sunan an-Nasa'i

This hadith is #4986 from Sunan an-Nasa'i, in the Book of The Book of Cutting off the Hand of the Thief and narrated by It was narrated from Al-Harith bin Hatib that a thief was brought to the Messenger of Allah and he said:.

Browse all Sunan an-Nasa'i All Hadith Collections

Sunan an-Nasa'i #4986

Context

Modern Application

Topics

Related Ayahs

Common Words

Related Hadiths

About Sunan an-Nasa'i

About This Hadith