holds Muhammad’s soul in His hand, if Fātimah, Muhammad’s daughter, were to steal, I would cut off her hand.”

Where equivalent retaliation is prescribed in matters of bloodshed, property, or otherwise, no distinction is made between a person of noble lineage and anyone else. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Muslims’ lives are of equal worth, and a pledge of protection given by the least of them is binding upon them all”—to the end of the hadith.

And Allah knows best.

He—may Allah Most High have mercy on him—was asked:

A man intended to lodge a complaint against another man. A group interceded on the latter’s behalf, but he said, “Even if Muhammad ibn Abd Allāh came to me on his behalf, I would not accept his intercession.”

They said, “You have committed disbelief! Ask Allah to forgive you for what you have said.” He replied, “What should I say?”

He—may Allah Most High have mercy on him—answered:

As for the man’s words, “Even if Muhammad ibn Abd Allāh came to me”: if it is established that he said this, he is to be put to death for it. Even if he repents after his case has been brought before the ruler, this does not spare him execution, according to the stronger of the two scholarly views. However, if he repents before his case is brought before the ruler, he is spared execution, according to the stronger of the two views. If he is subjected to discretionary punishment after repentance, that is permissible.