46/13. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4963 — Theft Penalty Limits
Things for which the hand may not be cut off
Hadith About Theft Penalty Limits for Produce
Sunan an-Nasai : 4963
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4963
أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سَلاَّمٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يَحْيَى بْنِ حَبَّانَ، عَنْ رَافِعِ بْنِ خَدِيجٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " 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 4963In-book reference : Book 46, Hadith 93English translation : Vol. 5, Book 46, Hadith 4966
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4963
In this narration, Rafi bin Khadij says he heard the Messenger of Allah give a clear rule: no hand cutting for produce or the spadix of palm trees. This hadith about theft penalty limits should be read exactly as it is worded. It names produce and palm-tree spadix, and it says the punishment of cutting off is not applied for them. It does not explain other types of theft, values, storage, or separate cases. That makes careful reading important. The hadith also helps readers see that Islamic legal reports may include specific boundaries, and those boundaries should not be ignored or stretched beyond the narration.
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.
