46/1. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4870 — Faith and Sin
The Seriousness of Theft
Hadith About Zina, Theft, Wine, and Robbery
Sunan an-Nasai : 4870
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4870
أَخْبَرَنَا الرَّبِيعُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا شُعَيْبُ بْنُ اللَّيْثِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَجْلاَنَ، عَنِ الْقَعْقَاعِ، عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " لاَ يَزْنِي الزَّانِي حِينَ يَزْنِي وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ وَلاَ يَسْرِقُ السَّارِقُ حِينَ يَسْرِقُ وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ وَلاَ يَشْرَبُ الْخَمْرَ حِينَ يَشْرَبُهَا وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ وَلاَ يَنْتَهِبُ نُهْبَةً ذَاتَ شَرَفٍ يَرْفَعُ النَّاسُ إِلَيْهَا أَبْصَارَهُمْ وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah said: "No one who commits Zina is a believer at the moment when he is committing Zina; no one who steals is a believe at the moment when he is stealing; no one who drinks wine is a believer at the moment when he is drinking it; and no robber is a believer at the moment when he is robbing and the people are looking on.
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4870In-book reference : Book 46, Hadith 1English translation : Vol. 5, Book 46, Hadith 4874
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4870
This hadith about zina, theft, wine, and robbery gives a strong warning about sins committed at the moment they happen. The Prophet says that the fornicator is not a believer while committing zina, the thief is not a believer while stealing, the one drinking wine is not a believer while drinking it, and the robber is not a believer while taking property openly while people are looking. The wording is about the state of the person during the act. It shows that these sins are not minor habits to ignore. They are actions that harm faith, harm people, and bring public shame. The hadith calls a person to stop before the sin takes hold.
What we learn from this hadith
- Zina, theft, wine drinking, and robbery are named as serious actions.
- The warning is tied to the exact moment of committing the sin.
- Open robbery is shown as a public wrong that people witness.
