3. Mu‘tasim’s Rule
Ma’munar-Rashid diedinthe year 218 A.H.Hewassucceeded byhis
brother, Mu‘tasimbillah.Inthe year220,Mu‘tasimorderedthat Imam
Muhammad at-Taqi be brought from Medina to Baghdad.
OnedayapersoncametothecourtofMu‘tasimandconfessedthathe
hadcommittedtheftandwouldliketobepunishedsothathecouldbe
freefromtheguiltandpunishmentinthehereafter.TheQur’ansaysthat
the punishment for theft (with some conditions) is cutting off the
thief’syad.Yadmeans:hand,forearmandelbow.Sothecaliphcalledall
the prominent religious scholars, including Imam Muhammad at-Taqi
(a.s.),andasked: “Fromwhereshouldtheyadofthethief becut?”(The
Qur’an is asking for the definition of “yad”.)
Ibn Abi Da’ud, the chief judge, said, “From the wrist.”
Mu‘tasim: “What is your proof for that?”
IbnAbiDa’ud:“Theword‘yad’hasbeenusedintheverseoftayam-
mum —so wipe your faces and your hands(5:5)— for the hand.”
Some scholars agreed with IbnAbi Da’udbut othersdisagreed and
said: “Cut the thief’s yad from the elbow.”
Mu‘tasim: “What is your proof?”
The scholars:“The word ‘yad’has been usedinthe verseof wudhu
—wash your faces and your hands up to the elbows(5:5)— for the fore-arm.”
ThenMu‘tasimturned towardsImam Muhammadat-Taqi (a.s.) and
askedhisopinion.The Imamfirstdeclinedtogivehis viewbecausehe
wasawareofthecourt’spolitics.ButwhenMu‘tasiminsisted,theImam
finallysaid, “Allthese gentlemenare mistakenbecauseonlythe [four]
fingers have to be cut.”
Mu‘tasim: “What is your proof?”
TheImam(a.s.):“TheProphet(s.a.w.)hassaidthatsajdahisdoneon
sevenpartsofthebody:forehead,palms,kneesandtwobigtoes[ofthe
feet].Ifathief’shandorforearmiscut,thenitwouldnotbepossiblefor
himtodothesajdahwhereasAllāhhassaid,‘Andverilythemasājid[the
bodypartsonwhich sajdahisdone]belongtoAllāh...;’ andwhatbe-
longs to Allāh should not be cut.”