46/4. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4878 — Theft and Pardon
If A Man Lets A Thief Have What He Stole, After Bringing Him Before The Ruler, And Mention Of The Differences Reported From 'Ata In The Narration Of Safwan Bin Umayyah About That
Hadith About Theft and Pardon Before the Case Reaches Authority
Sunan an-Nasai : 4878
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4878
أَخْبَرَنَا هِلاَلُ بْنُ الْعَلاَءِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي قَالَ، حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ زُرَيْعٍ، عَنْ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ عَطَاءٍ، عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ أُمَيَّةَ، أَنَّ رَجُلاً، سَرَقَ بُرْدَةً لَهُ فَرَفَعَهُ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأَمَرَ بِقَطْعِهِ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَدْ تَجَاوَزْتُ عَنْهُ . فَقَالَ " أَبَا وَهْبٍ أَفَلاَ كَانَ قَبْلَ أَنْ تَأْتِيَنَا بِهِ " . فَقَطَعَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم .
Safwan bin Umayyah Narrated from:
A man stole a Burdah of his, so he brought him before the Messenger of Allah, who ordered that his hand be cut off. He said: "O Messenger of Allah, I will let him have it." He said: "Abu Wahb! Why didn't you do that before you brought him to us?" And the Messenger of Allah had (the man's) hand cut off.
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4878In-book reference : Book 46, Hadith 9English translation : Vol. 5, Book 46, Hadith 4882
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4878
This hadith about theft and pardon tells of a man who stole Safwan bin Umayyah’s Burdah. Safwan brought him before the Messenger of Allah, who ordered that his hand be cut off. Safwan then said that he would let the man have it. The Prophet answered, “Why did you not do that before you brought him to us?” Then the punishment was carried out. The narration focuses on timing. Safwan’s offer came after the matter had already been brought to the Prophet. The hadith about pardon before authority teaches that forgiving a theft case is not presented the same way before and after it reaches judgment in this report.
What we learn from this hadith
- Safwan offered pardon only after bringing the case forward.
- The Prophet pointed to the timing of pardon in this narration.
- The report shows theft being treated as a serious public matter after referral.
