Sunan an-Nasa'i #4991

The Book of Cutting off the Hand of the Thief
Sahih

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

أَخْبَرَنَا سُوَيْدُ بْنُ نَصْرٍ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ، عَنْ أَبِي بَكْرِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ، عَنِ الْحَجَّاجِ، عَنْ مَكْحُولٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ مُحَيْرِيزٍ، قَالَ سَأَلْتُ فَضَالَةَ بْنَ عُبَيْدٍ عَنْ تَعْلِيقِ، يَدِ السَّارِقِ فِي عُنُقِهِ قَالَ سُنَّةٌ قَطَعَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَدَ سَارِقٍ وَعَلَّقَ يَدَهُ فِي عُنُقِهِ ‏.‏
'It is Sunnah. The Messenger of Allah cut off a thief's hand then hung it from his neck."'(Daif)
Narrated by It was narrated that Ibn Muhairiz said; "I asked Fadalah bin 'Ubaid about hanging the hand (of the thief) from his neck, and he said:

Context

This narration discusses the punishment for theft, specifically mentioning the practice of hanging the thief's hand from their neck after cutting it off. This reflects the severity of consequences for theft in Islamic law, emphasizing the need for deterrence.

Modern Application

In modern discussions about crime and punishment, this principle raises questions about the effectiveness and humanity of punitive measures. It invites a dialogue on how societies can balance justice with rehabilitation.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Punishments (Hudud) because it addresses the consequences of theft and the severity of punishments prescribed in Islamic law.

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سُورَةُ المَائـِدَةِ
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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,
وَكَتَبْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ فِيهَآ أَنَّ ٱلنَّفْسَ بِٱلنَّفْسِ وَٱلْعَيْنَ بِٱلْعَيْنِ وَٱلْأَنفَ بِٱلْأَنفِ وَٱلْأُذُنَ بِٱلْأُذُنِ وَٱلسِّنَّ بِٱلسِّنِّ وَٱلْجُرُوحَ قِصَاصٌۭ ۚ فَمَن تَصَدَّقَ بِهِۦ فَهُوَ كَفَّارَةٌۭ لَّهُۥ ۚ وَمَن لَّمْ يَحْكُم بِمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ فَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلظَّٰلِمُونَ
And We ordained for them therein a life for a life, an eye for an eye, a nose for a nose, an ear for an ear, a tooth for a tooth, and for wounds is legal retribution. But whoever gives [up his right as] charity, it is an expiation for him. And whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed - then it is those who are the wrongdoers.
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Al-A'raaf (The Heights)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
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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 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."

Common Words

112 total92 unique11 repeated
من5x
فى4x
ٱلله3x
أن3x
أو3x
خلف3x
بما2x
ٱلأرض2x
أيديكم2x
وأرجلكم2x
له2x
وٱلسارق1x
وٱلسارقة1x
فٱقطعوا1x
أيديهما1x
جزاء1x
كسبا1x
نكلا1x
وٱلله1x
عزيز1x
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About Sunan an-Nasa'i

This hadith is #4991 from Sunan an-Nasa'i, in the Book of The Book of Cutting off the Hand of the Thief. It is graded Sahih and narrated by It was narrated that Ibn Muhairiz said; "I asked Fadalah bin 'Ubaid about hanging the hand (of the thief) from his neck, and he said:.

About This Hadith