Book Eighty One – The Book on Limits and Punishments set by Allah (Hudud

Hadith Number 763.

Narrated by Abu Hurairah (Radhi Allahu Anhu): Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, "When an adulterer commits illegal sexual intercourse, then he is not a believer at the time he is doing it; and when somebody drinks an alcoholic drink, then he is not believer at the time of drinking, and when a thief steals, he is not a believer at the time when he is stealing; and when a robber robs and the people look at him, then he is not a believer at the time of doing it." Abu Hurairah in another narration, narrated the same from the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) with the exclusion of robbery.


Hadith Number 764.

Narrated by Anas bin Malik (Radhi Allahu Anhu): The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) beat a drunk with palm-leaf stalks and shoes. And Abu Bakr gave (such a sinner) forty lashes.


Hadith Number 765.

Narrated by 'Uqba bin Al-Harith (Radhi Allahu Anhu): An-Nu'man or the son of An-Nu'man was brought to the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) on a charge of drunkenness. So the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) ordered all the men present in the house, to beat him. So all of them beat him, and I was also one of them who beat him with shoes.


Hadith Number 766.

Narrated by 'Uqba bin Al-Harith (Radhi Allahu Anhu): An-Nu'man or the son of An-Nu'man was brought to the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam)in a state of intoxication. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) felt it hard (was angry) and ordered all those who were present in the house, to beat him. And they beat him, using palm-leaf stalks and shoes, and I was among those who beat him.


Hadith Number 767.

Narrated by Anas (Radhi Allahu Anhu): The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) lashed a drunk with date leaf stalks and shoes. And Abu Bakr gave a drunk forty lashes.


Hadith Number 768.

Narrated by Abu Salama: Abu Hurairah (Radhi Allahu Anhu) said, "A man who drank wine was brought to the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam). The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, 'Beat him!" Abu Hurairah (Radhi Allahu Anhu) added, "So some of us beat him with our hands, and some with their shoes, and some with their garments (by twisting it) like a lash, and then when we finished, someone said to him, 'May Allah disgrace you!' On that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, 'Do not say so, for you are helping Shaitan to overpower him.'"


Hadith Number 769.

Narrated by 'Ali bin Abi Talib (Radhi Allahu Anhu): I would not feel sorry for one who dies because of receiving a legal punishment, except the drunk, for if he should die (when being punished), I would give blood money to his family because no fixed punishment has been ordered by Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) for the drunk.


Hadith Number 770.

Narrated by As-Sa'ib bin Yazid: We used to strike the drunks with our hands, shoes, clothes (by twisting it into the shape of lashes) during the lifetime of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam), Abu Bakr and the early part of 'Umar's caliphate (Radhi Allahu Anhuma). But during the last period of 'Umar's caliphate, he used to give the drunk forty lashes; and when drunks became mischievous and disobedient, he used to scourge them eighty lashes.

Hadith Number 771.

Narrated by 'Umar bin Al-Khattab (Radhi Allahu Anhu): During the lifetime of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) there was a man called 'Abdullah whose nickname was Donkey, and he used to make Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) laugh. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) lashed him because of drinking (alcohol). And one-day he was brought to the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) on the same charge and was lashed. On that, a man among the people said, "O Allah, curse him! How frequently he has been brought (to the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) on such a charge)!" The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam)said, "Do not curse him, for by Allah, I know he loves Allah and His Messenger."


Hadith Number 772.

Narrated by Abu Hurairah (Radhi Allahu Anhu): A drunk was brought to the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) and he ordered him to be beaten (lashed). Some of us beat him with our hands, and some with their shoes, and some with their garments (twisted in the form of a lash). When that drunk had left, a man said, "What is wrong with him? May Allah disgrace him!" Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, "Do not help Shaitan against your (Muslim) brother."


Hadith Number 773.

Narrated by Ibn 'Abbas (Radhi Allahu Anhuma): The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam)said, "When (a person) an adulterer commits illegal sexual intercourse then he is not a believer at the time he is doing it; and when somebody steals, then he is not a believer at the time he is stealing."


Hadith Number 774.

Narrated by Abu Hurairah (Radhi Allahu Anhu): The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam)said, "Allah curses a man who steals an egg and gets his hand cut off, or steals a rope and gets his hands cut off." Al-A'mash said, "People used to interpret the Baida as an iron helmet, and they used to think that the rope may cost a few dirhams."


Hadith Number 775.

Narrated by 'Ubada bin As-Samit (Radhi Allahu Anhu): We were with the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) in a gathering and he said, 'Swear allegiance to me that you will not worship anything besides Allah, will not steal, and will not commit illegal sexual intercourse." And then (the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam)) recited the whole Verse (i.e. Surah Al-Mumtahanah 60:12). The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) added, 'And whoever among you fulfills his pledge, his reward is with Allah; and whoever commits something of such sins and receives the legal punishment for it, that will be considered as the expiation for that sin, and whoever commits something of such sins and Allah screens him, it is up to Allah whether to excuse or punish him."


Hadith Number 776.

Narrated by Abdullah (Radhi Allahu Anhu): Allah Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said in Hajjat-al-Wada, "Which month (of the year) do you think is most sacred?" The people said, "This current month of ours (the month of Dhul-Hijjah)." He said, "Which town (country) do you think is the most sacred?" They said, "This city of ours (Makkah)." He said, "Which day do you think is the most sacred?" The people said, "This day of ours." He then said, "Allah, the Blessed, the Supreme, has made your blood, your property and your honor as sacred as this day of yours in this town of yours, in this month of yours (and such protection cannot be slighted) except rightfully." (*) He then said thrice, "Have I conveyed Allah's Message (to you)?" The people answered him each time saying, 'Yes." The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) added, 'May Allah be merciful to you (or, woe on you)! Do not revert to disbelief after me by cutting the necks of each other."

* If somebody commits a crime, he is to be punished otherwise nobody and no authority can wrong him.

Hadith Number 777.

Narrated by 'Aishah (Radhi Allahu Anha): Whenever the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) was given an option between two things, he used to select the easier of the two as long as it was not sinful; but if it was sinful, he would remain far from it. By Allah, he never took revenge for himself concerning any matter that was presented to him, but when Allah's Limits were transgressed, he would take revenge for Allah's Sake.


Hadith Number 778.

Narrated by 'Aishah (Radhi Allahu Anha): Usama (Radhi Allahu Anhu) approached the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) on behalf of a woman (who had committed theft). The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, "The people before you were destroyed because they used to inflict the legal punishments on the poor and forgive the rich. By Him in Whose Hand my soul is! If Fatima (the daughter of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam)) did that (i.e. stole), I would cut off her hand."


Hadith Number 779.

Narrated by 'Aishah (Radhi Allahu Anha): The Quraish people became very worried about the Makhzumiya lady who had committed theft. They said, "Nobody can speak (in favor of the lady) to Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) and nobody dares do that except Usama who is the favorite of Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam). " When Usama (Radhi Allahu Anhu) spoke to Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) about that matter, Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, "Do you intercede (with me) to violate one of the legal punishment of Allah?" Then he got up and addressed the people, saying, "O people! The nations before you went astray because if a noble person committed theft, they used to leave him, but if a weak person among them committed theft, they used to inflict the legal punishment on him. By Allah, if Fatima, the daughter of Muhammad committed theft, Muhammad will cut off her hand. (*) "

* The right hand is actually to be cut off. But if the left hand was cut off by mistake, Qatada thinks that the right hand should then not be cut off.


Hadith Number 780.

Narrated by 'Aishah (Radhi Allahu Anha): The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, "The hand should be cut off for stealing something that is worth a quarter of a Dinar or more."


Hadith Number 781.

Narrated by 'Aishah (Radhi Allahu Anha): The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam)said, "The hand of a thief should be cut off for stealing a quarter of a Dinar."


Hadith Number 782.

Narrated by 'Aishah (Radhi Allahu Anha): The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, "The hand should be cut off for stealing a quarter of a Dinar."


Hadith Number 783.

Narrated by 'Aishah (Radhi Allahu Anha): The hand of a thief was not cut off during the lifetime of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) except for stealing something equal to a shield in value. (*)

* A shield was worth one Dinar at that time.



Hadith Number 784.

Narrated by 'Aishah (Radhi Allahu Anha): As above (783).


Hadith Number 785.

Narrated by 'Aishah (Radhi Allahu Anha): A thief's hand was not cut off for stealing something cheaper than a Hajafa or a Turs (two kinds of shields), each of which was worth a (respectable) price.

Hadith Number 786.

Narrated by 'Aishah (Radhi Allahu Anha): A thief's hand was not cut off for stealing something worth less than the price of a shield, whether a Turs or Hajafa (two kinds of shields), each of which was worth a (respectable) price.


Hadith Number 787.

Narrated by Ibn 'Umar (Radhi Allahu Anhuma): Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) cut off the hand of a thief for stealing a shield that was worth three Dirhams.


Hadith Number 788.

Narrated by Ibn 'Umar (Radhi Allahu Anhuma): The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) cut off the hand of a thief for stealing a shield that was worth three Dirhams.


Hadith Number 789.

Narrated by 'Abdullah bin 'Umar (Radhi Allahu Anhuma): The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) cut off the hand of a thief for stealing a shield that was worth three Dirhams.


Hadith Number 790.

Narrated by 'Abdullah bin 'Umar (Radhi Allahu Anhuma): The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) cut off the hand of a thief for stealing a shield that was worth three Dirhams.


Hadith Number 791.

Narrated by Abu Hurairah (Radhi Allahu Anhu): Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, "Allah curses the thief who steals an egg (or a helmet) for which his hand is to be cut off, or steals a rope, for which his hand is to be cut off."


Hadith Number 792.

Narrated by 'Aishah (Radhi Allahu Anha): The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) cut off the hand of a lady, and that lady used to come to me, and I used to convey her message to the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) and she repented, and her repentance was sincere.


Hadith Number 793.

Narrated by 'Ubada bin As-Samit (Radhi Allahu Anhu): I gave the pledge of allegiance to the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) with a group of people, and he said, "I take your pledge that you will not worship anything besides Allah, will not steal, will not commit infanticide, will not slander others by forging false statements and spreading it, and will not disobey me in anything good. And whoever among you fulfill all these (obligations of the pledge), his reward is with Allah. And whoever commits any of the above crimes and receives his legal punishment in this world that will be his expiation and purification. But if Allah screens his sin, it will be up to Allah, Who will either punish or forgive him according to His wish." Abu Abdullah said: "If a thief repents after his hand has been cut off, then his witness well be accepted. Similarly, if any person upon whom any legal punishment has been inflicted, repents, his witness will be accepted."