Fatima bint Al-Aswad

Fatima bint Al-Aswad was a contemporary of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. She was the first Muslim to undergo the hudud penalty for theft; her hand was cut off by order of Muhammad himself.

Early life Fatima was from the Makhzum clan of the Quraysh tribe in Mecca. She was also known as Umm Amr bint Sufyan; it appears that Al-Aswad was actually her grandfather. His brother Abu Salama was therefore her grand-uncle.

Fatima's mother was Fatima bint Abd al-Uzza ibn Abi Qays from the Amir ibn Luayy clan,

In March 624 Al-Aswad ibn Abd al-Asad fought on the side of the pagans at the Battle of Badr. He was killed there by Muhammad's uncle Hamza.

Fatima became a Muslim and gave allegiance to Muhammad. It is not stated whether she did this at the Conquest of Mecca or earlier.

The Legal Case

The Crime

Both the date and the nature of Fatima's crime are disputed. It was either during the Conquest of Mecca in January 630 or during the Farewell Hajj Another tradition describes the stolen items as “jewellery”. and looked for an intercessor to mitigate the penalty. More than one person interceded with Muhammad for her.

The Punishment

Her hand was cut off, returned from the mosque, he asked his wife before he had even entered the house if she had heard the news about Fatima. She replied, “Yes, she is here with me.” Usayd returned to the mosque to consult Muhammad, who told him: “She has had mercy on her. May Allah have mercy on you!”

When Fatima returned to her father, he instructed her to go to live with her maternal relatives because she “resembled” them. He did not enlarge on whether this resemblance was in appearance or in behaviour. Her maternal uncle, Huwaytib ibn Abd al-Uzza, took her in.

Later life

Muhammad's wife Aisha asserted that Fatima “truly repented”. When she was in need, she would visit Aisha, who used to pass on her requests to Muhammad.

Fatima was married in Muhammad's lifetime. Her kunya Umm Amr indicates that she had a son named Amr.