29931 - [حدثنا أبو محمد عبد اللَّه بن يونس قال: حدثني بقي بن مخلد قال: حدثنا عبد اللَّه بن محمد بن أبي شيبة قال] (1): Hafs ibn Ghiyath narrated to us from Ja'far from his father that the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said to Usama: "O Usama! Do not intercede in a prescribed punishment." And when he interceded, he would accept his intercession (2).

Hazrat Abu Wa'il narrates that Hazrat Ka'b said: There must never be any intercession regarding the prescribed punishment (hadd).

Hazrat Faraafisah Hanafi narrates that people were passing by Hazrat Zubair with a thief, so he interceded for him. Upon this, the people said: "Are you interceding for a thief?" He replied: "Yes! As long as he has not been taken to the Imam. When he is taken to the Imam, then Allah will not forgive him, even if the Imam forgives him."

The aforementioned statement of Hazrat Zubair is also narrated from Hazrat Faraafisah through this chain of transmission.

Hazrat Abu Hazim narrates that Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) interceded for a thief, so he was asked: Are you interceding for a thief? He replied: Yes! Indeed, this can be done as long as he has not been brought to the Imam, and when he reaches the Imam, then Allah will not forgive him if the Imam has forgiven him.

Hazrat Sulaiman bin Abi Kabsha narrates that a thief was brought before Hazrat Saeed bin Jubair and Hazrat Ata, so both of them interceded for him. Both were asked: Is this your recommendation? Both replied: Yes! As long as he has not been taken to the Imam.

Hazrat Abdul Wahab narrates that Hazrat Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) said: Whoever uses his intercession to obstruct the implementation of Allah’s punishments, has indeed opposed Allah in His command.

Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates that when the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was asked about something, he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "If Fatimah bint Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) herself had done it, I would certainly have carried out the punishment on her."

Hazrat Masood narrates that when this woman stole a sheet from the house of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), we considered this matter very grave, and this woman belonged to the Quraysh. So we went to the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) to discuss the matter and said: We will give forty ounces of silver as ransom for this woman. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Let her be purified; that is enough for her. When we heard gentle words from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), we went to Hazrat Usama (peace and blessings be upon him) and said: Please speak to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) about this matter. When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) saw this situation, he stood up to deliver a sermon and said: Why are you increasing your numbers against me regarding one of the punishments of Allah which has been established upon one of the maidservants of Allah? By the One in Whose hand is my soul, if Fatimah bint Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) had committed what this woman has committed, Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) would surely have cut off her hand.

Hazrat Zaid bin As-Salt narrates that I heard Hazrat Abu Bakr saying: If I catch a drunkard, it is preferable to me that Allah, the Lord of Might, conceals his fault, and if I catch a thief, it is preferable to me that Allah, the Lord of Might, conceals his fault.