46/13. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4961 — No Cutting for Produce
Things for which the hand may not be cut off
Hadith About Stealing Produce and Theft Penalty Limits
Sunan an-Nasai : 4961
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4961
أَخْبَرَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عَلِيٍّ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ يَحْيَى بْنَ سَعِيدٍ الْقَطَّانَ، يَقُولُ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يَحْيَى بْنِ حَبَّانَ، عَنْ رَافِعِ بْنِ خَدِيجٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " لاَ قَطْعَ فِي ثَمَرٍ وَلاَ كَثَرٍ " .
Rafi' bin Khadij Narrated from:
I heard the Messenger of Allah say: 'The hand is not to be cut off for (stealing) produce or the spadix of palm trees.'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4961In-book reference : Book 46, Hadith 91English translation : Vol. 5, Book 46, Hadith 4964
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4961
This narration repeats the important hadith about hand cutting and produce. Rafi bin Khadij reports that he heard the Prophet say there is no cutting off for produce or the spadix of palm trees. In plain words, the hadith draws attention to a named exception. It does not give a general list of all theft cases, and it does not ask readers to guess beyond the text. The related search phrase, la qat'a fi thamarin wa la kathar, points to the Arabic wording. The teaching is simple: the ruling in the report is tied to the exact items mentioned, so it should be read with care and honesty.
What we learn from this hadith
- The narration states that hand cutting does not apply to produce mentioned in the hadith.
- The text names two items clearly: produce and the spadix of palm trees.
- The report teaches care in applying legal penalties only where the text allows it.
