46/5. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4890 — Repeated Call to Repent
Stealing Something that Is Kept In A Protected Place
Hadith About Repentance Before Theft Punishment
Sunan an-Nasai : 4890
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4890
أَخْبَرَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْخَلِيلِ، عَنْ شُعَيْبِ بْنِ إِسْحَاقَ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، أَنَّ امْرَأَةً، كَانَتْ تَسْتَعِيرُ الْحُلِيَّ فِي زَمَانِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَاسْتَعَارَتْ مِنْ ذَلِكَ حُلِيًّا فَجَمَعَتْهُ ثُمَّ أَمْسَكَتْهُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لِتَتُبْ هَذِهِ الْمَرْأَةُ وَتُؤَدِّي مَا عِنْدَهَا " . مِرَارًا فَلَمْ تَفْعَلْ فَأَمَرَ بِهَا فَقُطِعَتْ .
Nafi Narrated from:
A woman used to borrow jewelry during the time of the Messenger of Allah. She borrowed some jewelry, collected it and kept it. The Messenger of Allah said: "Let this woman repent and give back what she has," several times, but she did not do that, so he ordered that her hand be cut off.
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4890In-book reference : Book 46, Hadith 21English translation : Vol. 5, Book 46, Hadith 4894
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4890
This narration says that a woman borrowed jewelry during the time of the Messenger of Allah, gathered it, and kept it. The Prophet told her several times to repent and give back what she had, but she did not do that. Then he ordered that her hand be cut off. The hadith about theft in Islam here highlights repeated warning and the duty to return property. It is not only about taking jewelry; it is about refusing to give back what is with her after being told to do so. The narration teaches that repentance is not just a feeling. In this case, it was tied to a clear action: return what belongs to others.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet called her to repent more than once in this narration.
- Repentance was linked with returning the property in her possession.
- Keeping people's jewelry after borrowing it is treated as a serious wrong.
- Ignoring repeated calls to repair the wrong led to the legal outcome described.
