46/6. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4901 — No Favoritism in Hudud
Mentioning the Different Wordings Reported by Az-Zuhri about the Makhzumi Woman who Stole
Makhzumi Woman Hadith: No Favoritism in Hudud
Sunan an-Nasai : 4901
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4901
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَبَلَةَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مُوسَى بْنِ أَعْيَنَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، عَنْ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ رَاشِدٍ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، أَنَّ قُرَيْشًا، أَهَمَّهُمْ شَأْنُ الْمَخْزُومِيَّةِ الَّتِي سَرَقَتْ فَقَالُوا مَنْ يُكَلِّمُ فِيهَا قَالُوا مَنْ يَجْتَرِئُ عَلَيْهِ إِلاَّ أُسَامَةُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ حِبُّ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم . فَكَلَّمَهُ أُسَامَةُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِنَّمَا هَلَكَ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ أَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا إِذَا سَرَقَ فِيهِمُ الشَّرِيفُ تَرَكُوهُ وَإِذَا سَرَقَ فِيهِمُ الضَّعِيفُ أَقَامُوا عَلَيْهِ الْحَدَّ وَايْمُ اللَّهِ لَوْ سَرَقَتْ فَاطِمَةُ بِنْتُ مُحَمَّدٍ لَقَطَعْتُ يَدَهَا " .
A'isha Narrated from:
The Quraish were worried about the case of the Makhzumi woman who stole, and they said: "Who will speak concerning her?" They said: "Who would dare to do that except Usamah bin Zaid, the beloved of the Messenger of Allah?" said: "Those who came before you were destroyed because whenever a noble person among them stole they would let him go. But if a person who was weak stole, they would carry out the Hadd punishment. By Allah, if Fatimah, the daughter of Muhammad, were to steal, I would ct off her hand."
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4901In-book reference : Book 46, Hadith 32English translation : Vol. 5, Book 46, Hadith 4905
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4901
This Makhzumi woman hadith gives a direct lesson on no favoritism in Hudud and public justice. The Quraish were worried about a woman from Banu Makhzum who had stolen. They wondered who could speak to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم about her case, and they chose Usamah bin Zaid because he was beloved to the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم. When Usamah spoke, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم explained why earlier people were destroyed: they spared the noble thief but punished the weak thief. The hadith about theft punishment does not present rank as a shield from accountability. It teaches that the same rule should be applied fairly. The mention of Fatimah, the daughter of Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم, makes the point even clearer: closeness, honor, and lineage cannot erase responsibility.
What we learn from this hadith
- Concern for a respected person must not turn into unjust protection.
- The text warns against applying punishment only to the weak.
- Love for someone does not make intercession right in every matter.
- Justice gains strength when the same standard applies to all.
