Fatima bint al-Aswad

The Limits of Allah

After the conquest of Makkah, “Fatima bint al-Aswad of Banu Makhzum was apprehended on the charge of theft. The Prophet ﷺ ordered to cut off the right hand of the culprit after her crime was proved. The notables among the Quraysh felt this was disgraceful. They wanted to save her by intercession… At last they approached Usama ibn Zayd. When he brought the matter to the notice of the Prophet ﷺ, his expression completely altered. He said, ‘Usama! Do you speak to me about the limits set by Allah?’ He got up and addressed the people, saying, **‘The people before you were destroyed because they used to overlook when a highborn or a man of substance among them committed a theft, but when the poor or the weak did the same, they chastised him as ordained by the law. I swear by Him Who holds my life, if Fatima bint Muhammad had committed this theft, I would have amputated her hand.’” 1 History of Islam · Vol 1 · pp. 252–253 — Najeebabadi — the case of Fatima bint al-Aswad and the Prophet's ﷺ warning.