46/13. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4964 — No Cutting for Palm Spadix
Things for which the hand may not be cut off
Hadith About Stealing Produce and Palm Spadix
Sunan an-Nasai : 4964
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4964
أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ الْحَمِيدِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مَخْلَدٌ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنِ يَحْيَى، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يَحْيَى بْنِ حَبَّانَ، عَنْ رَافِعِ بْنِ خَدِيجٍ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " 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 4964In-book reference : Book 46, Hadith 94English translation : Vol. 5, Book 46, Hadith 4967
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4964
This report from Rafi bin Khadij carries the same simple message: the hand is not to be cut off for produce or for the spadix of palm trees. A person searching for the hadith about stealing produce is usually looking for this exact wording. The narration answers that search in a direct way. It does not say theft is harmless, and it does not discuss every legal detail. It only states that this named punishment is not used for these named items. The explanation should therefore stay close to the text. The hadith points to care, limits, and accuracy when speaking about legal penalties.
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.
