46/5. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4883 — Thirty Dirhams Case
Stealing Something that Is Kept In A Protected Place
Hadith About Thirty Dirhams and Theft Judgment
Sunan an-Nasai : 4883
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4883
أَخْبَرَنِي أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ حَكِيمٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرٌو، عَنْ أَسْبَاطٍ، عَنْ سِمَاكٍ، عَنْ حُمَيْدِ بْنِ أُخْتِ، صَفْوَانَ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ أُمَيَّةَ، قَالَ كُنْتُ نَائِمًا فِي الْمَسْجِدِ عَلَى خَمِيصَةٍ لِي ثَمَنُهَا ثَلاَثُونَ دِرْهَمًا فَجَاءَ رَجُلٌ فَاخْتَلَسَهَا مِنِّي فَأُخِذَ الرَّجُلُ فَأُتِيَ بِهِ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأَمَرَ بِهِ لِيُقْطَعَ فَأَتَيْتُهُ فَقُلْتُ أَتَقْطَعُهُ مِنْ أَجْلِ ثَلاَثِينَ دِرْهَمًا أَنَا أَبِيعُهُ وَأُنْسِئُهُ ثَمَنَهَا . قَالَ " فَهَلاَّ كَانَ هَذَا قَبْلَ أَنْ تَأْتِيَنِي بِهِ " .
It was knarrated that Safwan bin Umayyah said: "I was sleeping in the Masjid on a Khmaishah of mine that was worth thirty dirhams, and a man came and stole it from me. The man was caught and taken to the Prophet, who ordered that his hand be cut off. I came to him and said: "Will you cut off his hand for the sake of only thirty Dirhams? I will sell it to him on credit." He said:" Why did you not say this before you brought him to me?"
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4883In-book reference : Book 46, Hadith 14English translation : Vol. 5, Book 46, Hadith 4887
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4883
This hadith about theft in Islam gives an added detail: Safwan said the stolen Khamisah was worth thirty dirhams. A man took it while Safwan was sleeping in the masjid. The man was caught and brought to the Prophet, who ordered that his hand be cut off. Safwan then asked whether the punishment would happen for only thirty dirhams and offered to sell it to the man on credit. The Prophet's answer pointed back to timing: why was this not said before he was brought? The lesson is not that property has no value. It is that private settlement, sale, or delay of payment belongs before the formal case reaches the judge.
What we learn from this hadith
- A later offer to sell the stolen item did not change the stage of the case.
- People should consider settlement before taking a theft matter to authority.
- The narration shows that a small-looking item may still be treated seriously.
- Legal steps should not be started lightly and then regretted afterward.
