64/53. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 4304 — Equal Justice in Allah’s Legal Limits
Chapter
Hadith About Justice and No Favoritism in Theft
Sahih Bukhari : 4304
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 4304
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مُقَاتِلٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ، أَخْبَرَنِي يُونُسُ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي عُرْوَةُ بْنُ الزُّبَيْرِ، أَنَّ امْرَأَةً، سَرَقَتْ فِي عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي غَزْوَةِ الْفَتْحِ، فَفَزِعَ قَوْمُهَا إِلَى أُسَامَةَ بْنِ زَيْدٍ يَسْتَشْفِعُونَهُ، قَالَ عُرْوَةُ فَلَمَّا كَلَّمَهُ أُسَامَةُ فِيهَا تَلَوَّنَ وَجْهُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ " أَتُكَلِّمُنِي فِي حَدٍّ مِنْ حُدُودِ اللَّهِ ". قَالَ أُسَامَةُ اسْتَغْفِرْ لِي يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ. فَلَمَّا كَانَ الْعَشِيُّ قَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم خَطِيبًا، فَأَثْنَى عَلَى اللَّهِ بِمَا هُوَ أَهْلُهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ " أَمَّا بَعْدُ، فَإِنَّمَا أَهْلَكَ النَّاسَ قَبْلَكُمْ أَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا إِذَا سَرَقَ فِيهِمُ الشَّرِيفُ تَرَكُوهُ، وَإِذَا سَرَقَ فِيهِمِ الضَّعِيفُ أَقَامُوا عَلَيْهِ الْحَدَّ، وَالَّذِي نَفْسُ مُحَمَّدٍ بِيَدِهِ، لَوْ أَنَّ فَاطِمَةَ بِنْتَ مُحَمَّدٍ سَرَقَتْ لَقَطَعْتُ يَدَهَا ". ثُمَّ أَمَرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِتِلْكَ الْمَرْأَةِ، فَقُطِعَتْ يَدُهَا، فَحَسُنَتْ تَوْبَتُهَا بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ وَتَزَوَّجَتْ. قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ فَكَانَتْ تَأْتِي بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ فَأَرْفَعُ حَاجَتَهَا إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم.
`Urwa bin Az-Zubair Narrated from:
A lady committed theft during the lifetime of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) in the Ghazwa of Al-Fath, ((i.e. Conquest of Mecca). Her folk went to Usama bin Zaid to intercede for her (with the Prophet). When Usama interceded for her with Allah's Messenger (ﷺ), the color of the face of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) changed and he said, "Do you intercede with me in a matter involving one of the legal punishments prescribed by Allah?" Usama said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! Ask Allah's Forgiveness for me." So in the afternoon, Allah's Apostle got up and addressed the people. He praised Allah as He deserved and then said, "Amma ba'du ! The nations prior to you were destroyed because if a noble amongst them stole, they used to excuse him, and if a poor person amongst them stole, they would apply (Allah's) Legal Punishment to him. By Him in Whose Hand Muhammad's soul is, if Fatima, the daughter of Muhammad stole, I would cut her hand." Then Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) gave his order in the case of that woman and her hand was cut off. Afterwards her repentance proved sincere and she got married. `Aisha said, "That lady used to visit me and I used to convey her demands to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)."
[1] Emigration is no longer required after the conquest of Makkah. Before that, emigration was rewardable, but it is not so after the conquest of Makkah.Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4304In-book reference : Book 64, Hadith 337USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 5, Book 59, Hadith 597
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 4304
This Hadith is about justice, legal limits, and equal treatment. A woman committed theft during the Ghazwa of Al-Fath, and her people asked Usama bin Zaid to intercede for her. When Usama spoke, the Prophet’s صلى الله عليه وسلم face changed, and he asked whether Usama was speaking in a matter involving one of Allah’s legal punishments. Later, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم addressed the people and explained that earlier nations were harmed because they excused the noble when they stole but punished the weak. He then gave a strong example, saying that even Fatima, the daughter of Muhammad, would not be treated with favoritism if she stole. The text also mentions that the woman later repented sincerely and married.
What we learn from this hadith
- Justice must not change because a person is noble or weak.
- Intercession in a legal punishment was rejected in this case.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم taught equal treatment through a clear public address.
- The report also mentions the woman’s later sincere repentance.
