46/6. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4894 — No Favoritism
Mentioning the Different Wordings Reported by Az-Zuhri about the Makhzumi Woman who Stole
Hadith About No Favoritism in Theft Judgment
Sunan an-Nasai : 4894
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4894
أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا سُفْيَانُ، قَالَ كَانَتْ مَخْزُومِيَّةٌ تَسْتَعِيرُ مَتَاعًا وَتَجْحَدُهُ فَرُفِعَتْ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَكُلِّمَ فِيهَا فَقَالَ " لَوْ كَانَتْ فَاطِمَةَ لَقَطَعْتُ يَدَهَا " . قِيلَ لِسُفْيَانَ مَنْ ذَكَرَهُ قَالَ أَيُّوبُ بْنُ مُوسَى عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ عَنْ عُرْوَةَ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى .
Sufyan Narrated from:
There was a Makhzumi woman who used to borrow things then deny that. She was brought to the Messenger of Allah and he was told about her. He said: 'If it were Fatimah (who stole), I would cut off her hand.' It was said to Sufyan: "Who told you that?" He said: "Ayyub bin Musa, from Az-Zuhri, from 'Urwah, from 'Aishah, if Allah the mighty and Sublime, wills."
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4894In-book reference : Book 46, Hadith 25English translation : Vol. 5, Book 46, Hadith 4898
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4894
This hadith about equal justice mentions a Makhzumi woman who used to borrow things and deny them. Her case was raised to the Messenger of Allah, and people spoke about her. The Prophet said that if it were Fatimah who stole, he would cut off her hand. The narration then mentions Sufyan being asked who reported it to him, and he named the chain if Allah willed. The core message is that justice is not to be changed because of a person's family or social standing. The hadith also connects dishonest borrowing with a serious legal response. It teaches that public respect does not make wrongful taking acceptable.
What we learn from this hadith
- Borrowing and denying property is shown as a serious wrong.
- People speaking on someone's behalf did not change the message of justice.
- The Prophet's statement about Fatimah stresses equal accountability.
- Status should not be used to soften a clear legal matter after it is raised.
