Sunan an-Nasa'i #4987
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 مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُبَيْدِ بْنِ عَقِيلٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا جَدِّي، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مُصْعَبُ بْنُ ثَابِتٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْمُنْكَدِرِ، عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ جِيءَ بِسَارِقٍ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ " اقْتُلُوهُ " . فَقَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّمَا سَرَقَ . قَالَ " اقْطَعُوهُ " . فَقُطِعَ ثُمَّ جِيءَ بِهِ الثَّانِيَةَ فَقَالَ " اقْتُلُوهُ " . فَقَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّمَا سَرَقَ . قَالَ " اقْطَعُوهُ " . فَقُطِعَ فَأُتِيَ بِهِ الثَّالِثَةَ فَقَالَ " اقْتُلُوهُ " . قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّمَا سَرَقَ . فَقَالَ " اقْطَعُوهُ " . ثُمَّ أُتِيَ بِهِ الرَّابِعَةَ فَقَالَ " اقْتُلُوهُ " . قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّمَا سَرَقَ . قَالَ " اقْطَعُوهُ " . فَأُتِيَ بِهِ الْخَامِسَةَ قَالَ " اقْتُلُوهُ " . قَالَ جَابِرٌ فَانْطَلَقْنَا بِهِ إِلَى مِرْبَدِ النَّعَمِ وَحَمَلْنَاهُ فَاسْتَلْقَى عَلَى ظَهْرِهِ ثُمَّ كَشَّرَ بِيَدَيْهِ وَرِجْلَيْهِ فَانْصَدَعَتِ الإِبِلُ ثُمَّ حَمَلُوا عَلَيْهِ الثَّانِيَةَ فَفَعَلَ مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ ثُمَّ حَمَلُوا عَلَيْهِ الثَّالِثَةَ فَرَمَيْنَاهُ بِالْحِجَارَةِ فَقَتَلْنَاهُ ثُمَّ أَلْقَيْنَاهُ فِي بِئْرٍ ثُمَّ رَمَيْنَا عَلَيْهِ بِالْحِجَارَةِ . قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ وَهَذَا حَدِيثٌ مُنْكَرٌ وَمُصْعَبُ بْنُ ثَابِتٍ لَيْسَ بِالْقَوِيِّ فِي الْحَدِيثِ وَاللَّهُ تَعَالَى أَعْلَمُ .
"A thief was brought to the Messenger of Allah and he said: 'Kill him.' They said: 'O Messenger of Allah, he only stole.' He said: 'Cut off (his hand).' So his hand was cut off. Then he was brought a second time and he said: 'Kill him.' They said; 'O Messenger of Allah, he only stole.' He said: 'Cut off (his foot).' So his foot was cut off. He was brought to him a third time and he said: 'Kill him.' They said: 'O Messenger of Allah, he only stole. He said: 'Cut off (his other hand).' Then he was brought to him a fourth time and he said: Kill him.' They said: 'O Messenger of Allah, he only stole.' He said: 'Cut off (his other foot).' He was brought to him a fifth time and he said: "So we took him to an animal pen and attacked him. He lay down on his back then waved his arms and legs (in the air), and the camels ran away. Then they attacked him a second time and he did the same thing, then they attacked him a third time, and we threw stones at him and killed him, then we threw him into a well and threw stones on top of him." (Hasan)
Abu 'Abdur-Rahman (An-Nasai) said: This Hadith is Munkar, Musab bin Thabit is not strong in Hadith.
Narrated by It was narrated that Jabir bin 'Abdullah said:
Context
In this hadith, Jabir bin 'Abdullah narrates an incident where a thief was brought to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. The Prophet initially suggested severe punishments, indicating a strict approach to theft. However, the repeated instances of the thief being brought back suggest a deeper theme of justice and the consequences of repeated wrongdoing. The hadith serves as a reminder of the importance of accountability in society.
Modern Application
In contemporary society, this hadith highlights the need for justice and accountability. It encourages individuals and communities to address wrongdoing firmly while also considering the circumstances surrounding each case. This principle can be applied in various settings, including schools and workplaces, where repeated offenses may require a structured response.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Punishments (Hudud) because it discusses the prescribed punishments for theft as indicated by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
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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."
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كَذَٰلِكَ نَفْعَلُ بِٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ
Thus do We deal with the criminals.
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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
97 total68 unique21 repeated
من5x
فى4x
أن3x
أو3x
خلف3x
ٱلله2x
ٱلأرض2x
قال2x
ءامنتم2x
له2x
قبل2x
ءاذن2x
لكم2x
إنه2x
لكبيركم2x
ٱلذى2x
علمكم2x
ٱلسحر2x
أيديكم2x
وأرجلكم2x
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About Sunan an-Nasa'i
This hadith is #4987 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 that Jabir bin 'Abdullah said:.