Sunan Abu Dawood, Book of Prescribed Punishments (Kitab Al-Hudud)

Anas b. Malik said:

Some people of ‘Ukl or ‘Urainah’ came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and found Madinah unhealthy. So the Messenger of Allah ﷺ ordered them to go to the camels (of the sadaqah) and ordered them to drink some of their urine and milk. They went there when they became well, they killed the herdsman of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and drove off the camels. The news about them reached the prophet ﷺ early in the morning. So he sent people in pursuit of them, and they were brought when they day had risen high. He ordered and their hands and feet were cut off and nails were drawn into their eyes, and they were thrown out of Harrah. They begged for water but were not supplied water. Abu Qilabah said: They were people who had stolen, killed, apostatized after their faith and fought against Allah and his Apostle ﷺ.

حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادٌ، عَنْ أَيُّوبَ، عَنْ أَبِي قِلاَبَةَ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، أَنَّ قَوْمًا، مِنْ عُكْلٍ - أَوْ قَالَ مِنْ عُرَيْنَةَ - قَدِمُوا عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَاجْتَوَوُا الْمَدِينَةَ فَأَمَرَ لَهُمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ بِلِقَاحٍ وَأَمَرَهُمْ أَنْ يَشْرَبُوا مِنْ أَبْوَالِهَا وَأَلْبَانِهَا فَانْطَلَقُوا فَلَمَّا صَحُّوا قَتَلُوا رَاعِيَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَاسْتَاقُوا النَّعَمَ فَبَلَغَ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ خَبَرُهُمْ مِنْ أَوَّلِ النَّهَارِ فَأَرْسَلَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ فِي آثَارِهِمْ فَمَا ارْتَفَعَ النَّهَارُ حَتَّى جِيءَ بِهِمْ فَأَمَرَ بِهِمْ فَقُطِعَتْ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَأَرْجُلُهُمْ وَسُمِّرَ أَعْيُنُهُمْ وَأُلْقُوا فِي الْحَرَّةِ يَسْتَسْقُونَ فَلاَ يُسْقَوْنَ . قَالَ أَبُو قِلاَبَةَ فَهَؤُلاَءِ قَوْمٌ سَرَقُوا وَقَتَلُوا وَكَفَرُوا بَعْدَ إِيمَانِهِمْ وَحَارَبُوا اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ .

The tradition mentioned above has also been transmitted by the narrator Ayyub through different chain. This version has:

So he (the prophet) order nails to be heated and had them blinded with them, and he had their hands and feet cut off, and did not cauterise them to stop the flow of blood.

حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، حَدَّثَنَا وُهَيْبٌ، عَنْ أَيُّوبَ، بِإِسْنَادِهِ بِهَذَا الْحَدِيثِ قَالَ فِيهِ فَأَمَرَ بِمَسَامِيرَ فَأُحْمِيَتْ فَكَحَلَهُمْ وَقَطَّعَ أَيْدِيَهُمْ وَأَرْجُلَهُمْ وَمَا حَسَمَهُمْ .

The tradition mentioned above has also been transmitted by Anas. B. Malik through a different chain of narrators. This version says:

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent some people who were experts in tracking in pursuit of them and they were brought (to him). Allah , the Exalted, then revealed the verse about it : “ The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and his Apostle and strive for mischief through the land.

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الصَّبَّاحِ بْنِ سُفْيَانَ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا ح، وَحَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عُثْمَانَ، حَدَّثَنَا الْوَلِيدُ، عَنِ الأَوْزَاعِيِّ، عَنْ يَحْيَى، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ أَبِي كَثِيرٍ - عَنْ أَبِي قِلاَبَةَ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، بِهَذَا الْحَدِيثِ قَالَ فِيهِ فَبَعَثَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي طَلَبِهِمْ قَافَةً فَأُتِيَ بِهِمْ . قَالَ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى فِي ذَلِكَ { إِنَّمَا جَزَاءُ الَّذِينَ يُحَارِبُونَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَيَسْعَوْنَ فِي الأَرْضِ فَسَادًا } الآيَةَ .

The tradition mentioned above has also been transmitted by Anas. B. Malik through a different chain of narrators. This version has:

Anas said : I saw one of them biting the earth with this mouth (teeth) on account of thirst and this they died.

حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادٌ، أَخْبَرَنَا ثَابِتٌ، وَقَتَادَةُ، وَحُمَيْدٌ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، ذَكَرَ هَذَا الْحَدِيثَ قَالَ أَنَسٌ فَلَقَدْ رَأَيْتُ أَحَدَهُمْ يَكْدِمُ الأَرْضَ بِفِيهِ عَطَشًا حَتَّى مَاتُوا .

A similar tradition has also been transmitted by Anas bin Malik through a different chain of narrators. This version adds:

He then forbade disfiguring. This version does not mention the words “ from opposite sides” . This tradition has been narrated by Shu’bah from Qatadah and Salam bin Miskin from Thabit on the authority of Anas. They did not mention the words “from opposite side”. I did not find these words “their hands and feet were cut off from opposite sides”. In any version except in the version of Hammad bin Salamah.

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي عَدِيٍّ، عَنْ هِشَامٍ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، بِهَذَا الْحَدِيثِ نَحْوَهُ زَادَ ثُمَّ نَهَى عَنِ الْمُثْلَةِ وَلَمْ يَذْكُرْ مِنْ خِلاَفٍ . وَرَوَاهُ شُعْبَةُ عَنْ قَتَادَةَ وَسَلاَّمِ بْنِ مِسْكِينٍ عَنْ ثَابِتٍ جَمِيعًا عَنْ أَنَسٍ لَمْ يَذْكُرَا مِنْ خِلاَفٍ . وَلَمْ أَجِدْ فِي حَدِيثِ أَحَدٍ قَطَعَ أَيْدِيَهُمْ وَأَرْجُلَهُمْ مِنْ خِلاَفٍ . إِلاَّ فِي حَدِيثِ حَمَّادِ بْنِ سَلَمَةَ .

Narrated Abdullah ibn Umar:

Some people raided the camels of the Prophet ﷺ, drove them off, and apostatised. They killed the herdsman of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ who was a believer. He (the Prophet) sent (people) in pursuit of them and they were caught. He had their hands and feet cut off, and their eyes put out. The verse regarding fighting against Allah and His Prophet ﷺ was then revealed. These were the people about whom Anas ibn Malik informed al-Hajjaj when he asked him.

حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ صَالِحٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي عَمْرٌو، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ أَبِي هِلاَلٍ، عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ، - قَالَ أَحْمَدُ هُوَ يَعْنِي عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ - عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ أَنَّ نَاسًا أَغَارُوا عَلَى إِبِلِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَاسْتَاقُوهَا وَارْتَدُّوا عَنِ الإِسْلاَمِ وَقَتَلُوا رَاعِيَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ مُؤْمِنًا فَبَعَثَ فِي آثَارِهِمْ فَأُخِذُوا فَقَطَعَ أَيْدِيَهُمْ وَأَرْجُلَهُمْ وَسَمَلَ أَعْيُنَهُمْ . قَالَ وَنَزَلَتْ فِيهِمْ آيَةُ الْمُحَارَبَةِ وَهُمُ الَّذِينَ أَخْبَرَ عَنْهُمْ أَنَسُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ الْحَجَّاجَ حِينَ سَأَلَهُ .

Narrated AbuzZinad:

When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ cut off (the hands and feet of) those who had stolen his camels and he had their eyes put out by fire (heated nails), Allah reprimanded him on that (action), and Allah, the Exalted, revealed: "The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His Apostle and strive with might and main for mischief through the land is execution or crucifixion."

حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَمْرِو بْنِ السَّرْحِ، أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي اللَّيْثُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْعَجْلاَنِ، عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ لَمَّا قَطَعَ الَّذِينَ سَرَقُوا لِقَاحَهُ وَسَمَلَ أَعْيُنَهُمْ بِالنَّارِ عَاتَبَهُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى فِي ذَلِكَ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى { إِنَّمَا جَزَاءُ الَّذِينَ يُحَارِبُونَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَيَسْعَوْنَ فِي الأَرْضِ فَسَادًا أَنْ يُقَتَّلُوا أَوْ يُصَلَّبُوا } الآيَةَ .

Muhammad bin Sirin said:

This happened before the prescribed punishments(hudud) were revealed, meaning the tradition of Anas.

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ كَثِيرٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا ح، وَحَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، حَدَّثَنَا هَمَّامٌ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِيرِينَ، قَالَ كَانَ هَذَا قَبْلَ أَنْ تَنْزِلَ الْحُدُودُ يَعْنِي حَدِيثَ أَنَسٍ .

Narrated Abdullah ibn Abbas:

The verse "The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His Apostle, and strive with might and main for mischief through the land is execution, or crucifixion, or the cutting off of hands and feet from opposite side or exile from the land...most merciful" was revealed about polytheists. If any of them repents before they are arrested, it does not prevent from inflicting on him the prescribed punishment which he deserves.

حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ ثَابِتٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ حُسَيْنٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ النَّحْوِيِّ، عَنْ عِكْرِمَةَ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ { إِنَّمَا جَزَاءُ الَّذِينَ يُحَارِبُونَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَيَسْعَوْنَ فِي الأَرْضِ فَسَادًا أَنْ يُقَتَّلُوا أَوْ يُصَلَّبُوا أَوْ تُقَطَّعَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَأَرْجُلُهُمْ مِنْ خِلاَفٍ أَوْ يُنْفَوْا مِنَ الأَرْضِ } إِلَى قَوْلِهِ { غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ } نَزَلَتْ هَذِهِ الآيَةُ فِي الْمُشْرِكِينَ فَمَنْ تَابَ مِنْهُمْ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُقْدَرَ عَلَيْهِ لَمْ يَمْنَعْهُ ذَلِكَ أَنْ يُقَامَ فِيهِ الْحَدُّ الَّذِي أَصَابَهُ .

‘A’ishah said:

The Quraish were anxious about the Makhzumi woman who had committed theft, They said : Who will speak to the Messenger of Allahﷺ about her ? Then they said: Who will be bold enough for it but Uasmah bin Zaid, the prophet’s ﷺ friend! So Usamah spoke to him, and the Messenger of Allahﷺ said : Are you interceding regarding one of the punishments prescribed by Allah ? He then got up and gave an address, saying : What destroyed your predecessors was just that when a person of rank among them committed a theft, They left him alone , and when a weak one of them committed a theft, they inflicted the prescribed punishment on him . I swear by Allah that if Fatimah daughter of Muhammad should steal, I would have her hand cut off.

حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ خَالِدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَوْهَبٍ الْهَمْدَانِيُّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي ح، وَحَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ الثَّقَفِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، رضى الله عنها أَنَّ قُرَيْشًا، أَهَمَّهُمْ شَأْنُ الْمَرْأَةِ الْمَخْزُومِيَّةِ الَّتِي سَرَقَتْ فَقَالُوا مَنْ يُكَلِّمُ فِيهَا تَعْنِي رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ . قَالُوا وَمَنْ يَجْتَرِئُ إِلاَّ أُسَامَةُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ حِبُّ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَكَلَّمَهُ أُسَامَةُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ " يَا أُسَامَةُ أَتَشْفَعُ فِي حَدٍّ مِنْ حُدُودِ اللَّهِ " . ثُمَّ قَامَ فَاخْتَطَبَ فَقَالَ " إِنَّمَا هَلَكَ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ أَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا إِذَا سَرَقَ فِيهِمُ الشَّرِيفُ تَرَكُوهُ وَإِذَا سَرَقَ فِيهِمُ الضَّعِيفُ أَقَامُوا عَلَيْهِ الْحَدَّ وَايْمُ اللَّهِ لَوْ أَنَّ فَاطِمَةَ بِنْتَ مُحَمَّدٍ سَرَقَتْ لَقَطَعْتُ يَدَهَا " .