46/5. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4891 — Fatimah and Equal Law
Stealing Something that Is Kept In A Protected Place
Hadith About Equal Justice in Theft Cases
Sunan an-Nasai : 4891
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4891
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مَعْدَانَ بْنِ عِيسَى، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ أَعْيَنَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مَعْقِلٌ، عَنْ أَبِي الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنْ جَابِرٍ، أَنَّ امْرَأَةً، مِنْ بَنِي مَخْزُومٍ سَرَقَتْ فَأُتِيَ بِهَا النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَعَاذَتْ بِأُمِّ سَلَمَةَ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لَوْ كَانَتْ فَاطِمَةَ بِنْتَ مُحَمَّدٍ لَقَطَعْتُ يَدَهَا " . فَقُطِعَتْ يَدُهَا .
Jabir Narrated from:
A woman from Banu Makhzum stole (something), and she was brought to the Prophet. She sought the protection of Umm Salamah, but the Prophet said: "If Fatimah bint Muhammad were to steal, I would cut off her hand." And he ordered that her hand be cut off.
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4891In-book reference : Book 46, Hadith 22English translation : Vol. 5, Book 46, Hadith 4895
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4891
This hadith about equal justice in Islam reports that a woman from Banu Makhzum stole and was brought to the Prophet. She sought the protection of Umm Salamah. The Prophet responded with a strong statement: if Fatimah bint Muhammad were to steal, he would cut off her hand. Then he ordered that the woman's hand be cut off. The text focuses on fairness in applying the law. It does not allow family status, tribe, or closeness to respected people to change the ruling. For readers looking for the famous Fatimah theft hadith, this narration shows that justice is not meant to bend for the powerful while applying only to others.
What we learn from this hadith
- Social status does not remove accountability in this narration.
- Seeking protection did not change the ruling after the theft case was brought.
- The Prophet used the example of Fatimah to stress equal justice.
- The text warns against favoritism in serious legal matters.
