would let a high-born person go when he stole among them, but would enforce the prescribed punishment when a weak person stole. By Him in Whose hand is Muhammad’s soul, if Fātimah, the daughter of Muhammad, were to steal, I would cut off her hand.’”

There is a lesson in this account. The two noblest clans in Quraysh were Banū Makhzūm and Banū ‘Abd Manāf. This woman’s theft warranted the amputation of her hand—her theft being, according to some scholars, her denial of having borrowed property, or, according to others, a separate act of theft. Although she belonged to one of the greatest tribes and noblest families, when Usāmah, the beloved of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, interceded for her, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, became angry. He rebuked him for involving himself in something Allah had forbidden: interceding to prevent the enforcement of prescribed punishments. He then gave the example of the foremost of all women—whom Allah had declared innocent of such wrongdoing—saying:

“If Fātimah, the daughter of Muhammad, were to steal, I would cut off her hand.”

It is reported that this woman whose hand was cut off repented, and that she would subsequently visit the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, who would attend to her needs.

It is also reported:

“If the thief repents, his hand precedes him into Paradise; if he does not repent, his hand precedes him into the Fire.”

Mālik related in al-Muwatta’ that a group of people seized a thief to bring him before ‘Uthmān, may Allah be pleased with him. Al-Zubayr met them and interceded for him. They said, “When he is brought before ‘Uthmān, intercede for him with him.” He replied:

“If cases involving prescribed punishments reach the ruler, may Allah curse both the intercessor and the one who grants the intercession!”

He meant the person who accepts the intercession.

“Safwān ibn