Severing of Hands

[Quran 3:75] Some followers of the scripture can be trusted with a whole lot, and they will give it back to you. Others among them cannot be trusted with a single dinar; they will not repay you unless you keep after them. That is because they say, "We do not have to be honest when dealing with the gentiles!"* Thus, they attribute lies to GOD, knowingly.

(٧٥) وَمِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ مَنْ إِنْ تَأْمَنْهُ بِقِنْطَارٍ يُؤَدِّهِ إِلَيْكَ وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ إِنْ تَأْمَنْهُ بِدِينَارٍ لَا يُؤَدِّهِ إِلَيْكَ إِلَّا مَا دُمْتَ عَلَيْهِ قَائِمًا ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَالُوا لَيْسَ عَلَيْنَا فِي الْأُمِّيِّينَ سَبِيلٌ وَيَقُولُونَ عَلَى اللَّهِ الْكَذِبَ وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَسْلَمَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ عَمْرَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ تُقْطَعُ الْيَدُ فِي رُبُعِ دِينَارٍ فَصَاعِدًا ‏"‏‏.‏ تَابَعَهُ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ خَالِدٍ وَابْنُ أَخِي الزُّهْرِيِّ وَمَعْمَرٌ عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ‏.‏

Narrated `Aisha: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "The hand should be cut off for stealing something that is worth a quarter of a Dinar or more."

Sahih al-Bukhari 6789 https://sunnah.com/bukhari:6789

حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيٌّ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، قَالَ ذَهَبْتُ أَسْأَلُ الزُّهْرِيَّ عَنْ حَدِيثِ الْمَخْزُومِيَّةِ، فَصَاحَ بِي، قُلْتُ لِسُفْيَانَ فَلَمْ تَحْتَمِلْهُ عَنْ أَحَدٍ قَالَ وَجَدْتُهُ فِي كِتَابٍ كَانَ كَتَبَهُ أَيُّوبُ بْنُ مُوسَى عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ عَنْ عُرْوَةَ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها أَنَّ امْرَأَةً مِنْ بَنِي مَخْزُومٍ سَرَقَتْ، فَقَالُوا مَنْ يُكَلِّمُ فِيهَا النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَلَمْ يَجْتَرِئْ أَحَدٌ أَنْ يُكَلِّمَهُ، فَكَلَّمَهُ أُسَامَةُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، فَقَالَ ‏ "‏ إِنَّ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ كَانَ إِذَا سَرَقَ فِيهِمُ الشَّرِيفُ تَرَكُوهُ، وَإِذَا سَرَقَ الضَّعِيفُ قَطَعُوهُ، لَوْ كَانَتْ فَاطِمَةُ لَقَطَعْتُ يَدَهَا ‏"‏‏.‏

Aisha said, "A woman from Bani Makhzumiya committed a theft and the people said, 'Who can intercede with the Prophet (ﷺ) for her?' So nobody dared speak to him (i.e. the Prophet) but Usama bin Zaid spoke to him. The Prophet said, 'If a reputable man amongst the children of Bani Israel committed a theft, they used to forgive him, but if a poor man committed a theft, they would cut his hand. But I would cut even the hand of Fatima (i.e. the daughter of the Prophet) if she committed a theft."

Sahih al-Bukhari 3733 https://sunnah.com/bukhari:3733

حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ أَبِي أُوَيْسٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ وَهْبٍ، عَنْ يُونُسَ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ، وَعَمْرَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ تُقْطَعُ يَدُ السَّارِقِ فِي رُبُعِ دِينَارٍ ‏"‏‏.‏

Narrated `Aisha: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "The hand of a thief should be cut off for stealing a quarter of a Dinar."

Sahih al-Bukhari 6790 https://sunnah.com/bukhari:6790

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مُقَاتِلٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ، أَخْبَرَنَا هِشَامُ بْنُ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ لَمْ تَكُنْ تُقْطَعُ يَدُ السَّارِقِ فِي أَدْنَى مِنْ حَجَفَةٍ أَوْ تُرْسٍ، كُلُّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمَا ذُو ثَمَنٍ‏.‏ رَوَاهُ وَكِيعٌ وَابْنُ إِدْرِيسَ عَنْ هِشَامٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ مُرْسَلاً‏.‏

Narrated `Aisha: A thief's hand was not cut off for stealing something cheaper than a Hajafa or a Turs (two kinds of shields), each of which was worth a (respectable) price.

Sahih al-Bukhari 6793 https://sunnah.com/bukhari:6793

حَدَّثَنِي يُوسُفُ بْنُ مُوسَى، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أُسَامَةَ، قَالَ هِشَامُ بْنُ عُرْوَةَ أَخْبَرَنَا عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ قَالَتْ لَمْ تُقْطَعْ يَدُ سَارِقٍ عَلَى عَهْدِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي أَدْنَى مِنْ ثَمَنِ الْمِجَنِّ، تُرْسٍ أَوْ حَجَفَةٍ، وَكَانَ كُلُّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمَا ذَا ثَمَنٍ‏.‏

Narrated `Aisha: A thief's hand was not cut off for stealing something worth less than the price of a shield, whether a Turs or Hajafa (two kinds of shields), each of which was worth a (respectable) price.

Sahih al-Bukhari 6794 https://sunnah.com/bukhari:6794

حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَاحِدِ، حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا صَالِحٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ لَعَنَ اللَّهُ السَّارِقَ، يَسْرِقُ الْبَيْضَةَ فَتُقْطَعُ يَدُهُ، وَيَسْرِقُ الْحَبْلَ فَتُقْطَعُ يَدُهُ ‏"‏‏.‏

Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah 's Apostle said, "Allah curses the thief who steals an egg (or a helmet) for which his hand is to be cut off, or steals a rope, for which his hand is to be cut off."

Sahih al-Bukhari 6799 https://sunnah.com/bukhari:6799

حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا لَيْثٌ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رُمْحٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا اللَّيْثُ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ، عَنَ عَائِشَةَ، أَنَّ قُرَيْشًا، أَهَمَّهُمْ شَأْنُ الْمَرْأَةِ الْمَخْزُومِيَّةِ الَّتِي سَرَقَتْ فَقَالُوا مَنْ يُكَلِّمُ فِيهَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالُوا وَمَنْ يَجْتَرِئُ عَلَيْهِ إِلاَّ أُسَامَةُ حِبُّ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏.‏ فَكَلَّمَهُ أُسَامَةُ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ أَتَشْفَعُ فِي حَدٍّ مِنْ حُدُودِ اللَّهِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ ثُمَّ قَامَ فَاخْتَطَبَ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّمَا أَهْلَكَ الَّذِينَ قَبْلَكُمْ أَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا إِذَا سَرَقَ فِيهِمُ الشَّرِيفُ تَرَكُوهُ وَإِذَا سَرَقَ فِيهِمُ الضَّعِيفُ أَقَامُوا عَلَيْهِ الْحَدَّ وَايْمُ اللَّهِ لَوْ أَنَّ فَاطِمَةَ بِنْتَ مُحَمَّدٍ سَرَقَتْ لَقَطَعْتُ يَدَهَا ‏"‏ ‏.‏ وَفِي حَدِيثِ ابْنِ رُمْحٍ ‏"‏ إِنَّمَا هَلَكَ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

'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."

Sahih Muslim 1688a https://sunnah.com/muslim:1688a

‘A’ishah said: The prophet (ﷺ) used to cut off a thief’s hand for a quarter of a dinar and upwards.

Sunan Abi Dawud 4383 https://sunnah.com/abudawud:4383

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَسْلَمَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا مَالِكٌ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَطَعَ فِي مِجَنٍّ ثَمَنُهُ ثَلاَثَةُ دَرَاهِمَ ‏.‏

Ibn ‘Umar’ said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had thief’s hand cut off for a shield worth three dirhams.

Sunan Abi Dawud 4385 https://sunnah.com/abudawud:4385

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُبَيْدِ بْنِ عَقِيلٍ الْهِلاَلِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا جَدِّي، عَنْ مُصْعَبِ بْنِ ثَابِتِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْمُنْكَدِرِ، عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ جِيءَ بِسَارِقٍ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ ‏"‏ اقْتُلُوهُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ فَقَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّمَا سَرَقَ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ اقْطَعُوهُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ فَقُطِعَ ثُمَّ جِيءَ بِهِ الثَّانِيَةَ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ اقْتُلُوهُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ فَقَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّمَا سَرَقَ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ اقْطَعُوهُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ فَقُطِعَ ثُمَّ جِيءَ بِهِ الثَّالِثَةَ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ اقْتُلُوهُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ فَقَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّمَا سَرَقَ ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ اقْطَعُوهُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ ثُمَّ أُتِيَ بِهِ الرَّابِعَةَ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ اقْتُلُوهُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ فَقَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّمَا سَرَقَ ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ اقْطَعُوهُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ فَأُتِيَ بِهِ الْخَامِسَةَ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ اقْتُلُوهُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ جَابِرٌ فَانْطَلَقْنَا بِهِ فَقَتَلْنَاهُ ثُمَّ اجْتَرَرْنَاهُ فَأَلْقَيْنَاهُ فِي بِئْرٍ وَرَمَيْنَا عَلَيْهِ الْحِجَارَةَ ‏.‏

Narrated Jabir ibn Abdullah: A thief was brought to the Prophet (ﷺ). He said: Kill him. The people said: He has committed theft, Messenger of Allah! Then he said: Cut off his hand. So his (right) hand was cut off. He was brought a second time and he said: Kill him. The people said: He has committed theft, Messenger of Allah! Then he said: Cut off his foot. So his (left) foot was cut off. He was brought a third time and he said: Kill him. The people said: He has committed theft, Messenger of Allah! So he said: Cut off his hand. (So his (left) hand was cut off.) He was brought a fourth time and he said: Kill him. The people said: He has committed theft, Messenger of Allah! So he said: Cut off his foot. So his (right) foot was cut off. He was brought a fifth time and he said: Kill him. So we took him away and killed him. We then dragged him and cast him into a well and threw stones over him.

Sunan Abi Dawud 4410 https://sunnah.com/abudawud:4410

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