Question about a Hadith from Volume 8:Book 81:Number 778

[alf2]

:salam2:

Seeking help understanding this hadith, insha allah.

Volume 8, Book 81, Number 778:

Narrated 'Aisha (may allah be pleased with her):

Usama approached the Prophet (salalahu alayhi wa selam) on behalf of a woman (who had committed theft). The Prophet said, "The people before you were destroyed because they used to inflict the legal punishments on the poor and forgive the rich. By Him in Whose Hand my soul is! If Fatima (the daughter of the Prophet ) did that (i.e. stole), I would cut off her hand."

So did he cut off the woman's hand to preserve justice?
What does he mean "the people before you"?

Jazakallah khair in advance!

 

[islamerica]

From what I remember, the full story is that a woman from well to do family had committed theft and the her family decided that they would talk on her behalf to see if she get out of the punishment it can be over looked. When they tried to do that with the Prophet (S) he warned that the people before them were destroyed because of this very thing in which they would punish the poor and exempt the rich. And he swears if his own daughter Fatima r.a. had done such a thing, her being his daughter would not stop him from carrying out the law.

It is understood that the woman was not exempted and punishment was carried.

The people before you means the nations before you. The Romans, Persians, Christians, etc. In those nations people higher up in power would get away with crime while poor were made an example of. Same thing happens today where they law makes an example of the poor while the Corporation executives, dictators and Presidents, and Senators and their kin either get away with it or get slap on the wrist.

 

[alf2]

From what I remember, the full story is that a woman from well to do family had committed theft and the her family decided that they would talk on her behalf to see if she get out of the punishment it can be over looked. When they tried to do that with the Prophet (S) he warned that the people before them were destroyed because of this very thing in which they would punish the poor and exempt the rich. And he swears if his own daughter Fatima r.a. had done such a thing, her being his daughter would not stop him from carrying out the law.

It is understood that the woman was not exempted and punishment was carried.

The people before you means the nations before you. The Romans, Persians, Christians, etc. In those nations people higher up in power would get away with crime while poor were made an example of. Same thing happens today where they law makes an example of the poor while the Corporation executives, dictators and Presidents, and Senators and their kin either get away with it or get slap on the wrist.

I have a 10 cd set on Islam i'm listening to in my car. And I heard this today as an example of the equal justice Islam and Prophet Muhammad (salalahu alayhi wa selam) enforced. And the speaker mentioned how the Prophet (saw) said he would cut off his own daughters hand (as to preserve equal justice)

I was like whoa...I dont know if I could do that.

 

[islamerica]

I have a 10 cd set on Islam i'm listening to in my car. And I heard this today as an example of the equal justice Islam and Prophet Muhammad (salalahu alayhi wa selam) enforced. And the speaker mentioned how the Prophet (saw) said he would cut off his own daughters hand (as to preserve equal justice)

I was like whoa...I dont know if I could do that.

Basically what he was saying was that no one is exempt from Allah's laws. There also comes wisdom with administering the law and it's not just blind application like in the west, whether it makes sense or not.

For example. During the rule of Umar r.a. (i think) a person was caught stealing and was brought before him and he asked the thief why do it. The man replied he does not get enough from working and has to feed his family. The Amir ordered the employer to come and explain himself and then was told to pay the person proper wages or his hand will be cut instead.

 

[Tomtom]

From what I remember, the full story is that a woman from well to do family had committed theft and the her family decided that they would talk on her behalf to see if she get out of the punishment it can be over looked. When they tried to do that with the Prophet (S) he warned that the people before them were destroyed because of this very thing in which they would punish the poor and exempt the rich. And he swears if his own daughter Fatima r.a. had done such a thing, her being his daughter would not stop him from carrying out the law.

It is understood that the woman was not exempted and punishment was carried.

The people before you means the nations before you. The Romans, Persians, Christians, etc. In those nations people higher up in power would get away with crime while poor were made an example of. Same thing happens today where they law makes an example of the poor while the Corporation executives, dictators and Presidents, and Senators and their kin either get away with it or get slap on the wrist.

What I've highlighted above is incorrect. The people 'before you' means the people of the book, namely the Jews and the Christians. The Romans, Persians etc are all outside of the Mercy of Allah Subhana Wa Ta'ala as they did not accept His words. The Prophet (pbuh) was specifically talking about the law that was given to Prophet Moses (pbubh) as this was a devine law handed down to the Children of Israel, this is the same law that we are to follow. The laws of God and the message of God had never changed. so the people before always refer to the people who were following the devine law as revealed to Moses (pbuh).

 

[islamerica]

What I've highlighted above is incorrect. The people 'before you' means the people of the book, namely the Jews and the Christians. The Romans, Persians etc are all outside of the Mercy of Allah Subhana Wa Ta'ala as they did not accept His words. The Prophet (pbuh) was specifically talking about the law that was given to Prophet Moses (pbubh) as this was a devine law handed down to the Children of Israel, this is the same law that we are to follow. The laws of God and the message of God had never changed. so the people before always refer to the people who were following the devine law as revealed to Moses (pbuh).

When you start saying this or that is incorrect when related to the deen, then please back it up with proof from Quran and Sunnah.

 

[Tomtom]

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Prophet (PBUH) said, "Do not ask me unnecessarily about the details of the things which I do not mention to you. Verily, the people before you were doomed because they were used to putting many questions to their Prophets and had differences about their Prophets. Refrain from what I forbid you and do what I command you to the best of your ability and capacity".

'Amir b. Sa'd reported that a person asked Sa'd b. Abu Waqqas about the plague, whereupon Usama b. Zaid said:
I would inform you about it. The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: It is a calamity or a disease which Allah sent to a group of Bani Isra'il, or to the people who were before you; so when you hear of it in land, don't enter it and when it has broken out in your land, don't run away from it.