The second interpretation is that he ﷺ would instruct someone else to sever her hand. In any case, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ could never withhold a prescribed punishment because of a person’s nobility or social standing; the ḥadd is Allah’s right. By Allah, were Fāṭimah, daughter of Muhammad, to steal, I would cut off her hand.
Accordingly, the Prophet ﷺ ordered that the hand of the Makhzūmī woman be amputated, and it was carried out. She was a lady from the nobility of Quraysh, yet the penalty was not waived for her. In the same manner, those in authority must treat all people equally when enforcing the ḥudūd, showing no favoritism on account of kinship, wealth, tribal honor, or any other consideration. The ḥadd belongs to Allah and must be carried out for His sake.
Reflect on His words: “The fornicating woman and the fornicating man—whip each of them one hundred lashes, and let no compassion for them prevent you from upholding Allah’s religion.” Compassion here includes interceding for the offender. Do not intercede for anyone once a ḥadd has become due; do not show tenderness or mercy, and do not say, “This one is noble, that one is weak, this man has young children.” None of that should concern you. Suppose a married person commits adultery, the charge is proven, and he has small children and wives who would become widows and whose children would become orphans—pay no heed to that. Enforce the penalty and stone him until he dies. Do not say, “But he has young children and wives.” That must not deter you. Apply the ḥadd to everyone who commits an offense that warrants it.
When the Muslim community adhered to such impartial justice—fearing no critic in their duty to Allah—it enjoyed honor, strength, and manifest victory. When, however, it abandoned the enforcement of Allah’s limits and allowed favoritism and influence to overturn them, the community declined to the state you now witness. We therefore ask Allah to restore the Muslim ummah to its former glory and its firm adherence to His religion. He is capable of all things.