❖ Repentance of the Highway Robber (Muḥārib) and Dropping of the Ḥadd
Written by: Imran Ayoob Lahori
◈ Qur’ānic Ruling on Repentance
If a muḥārib repents before being captured, the ḥadd punishment will be dropped.
Allah says:
إِلَّا الَّذِينَ تَابُوا مِن قَبْلِ أَن تَقْدِرُوا عَلَيْهِمْ ۖ فَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ [المائدة: 34]
"Except for those who repent before you overpower them; then know that Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."
This verse proves that repentance only drops the ḥadd of muḥārabah, not all other ḥudūd. Other punishments remain, even if repentance is made.
Reference: السيل الجرار: 371/4
◈ Scholars’ Opinions
- Imām Mālik (RA): Repentance drops only the ḥadd of muḥārabah. The rights of people (ḥuqūq al-ʿibād) must still be fulfilled.
- Sayyid Sābiq (RA): Repentance erases the rights of Allah (ḥuqūq Allāh), but in terms of human rights, the muḥārib will be dealt with under qiṣāṣ. For example, in cases of murder or theft, the matter belongs to the victims; if they pardon, it is valid, otherwise qiṣāṣ applies.
Reference: فقه السنة: 571/2 - Nawāb Ṣiddīq Ḥasan Khān (RA): A similar opinion is narrated from Imām al-Shāfiʿī (RA).
Reference: الروضة الندية: 620/2
◈ Ibn Ḥazm’s Explanation
Imām Ibn Ḥazm (RA) refuted the claim that only disbelief (kufr) constitutes muḥārabah. He cited:
① يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَذَرُوا مَا بَقِيَ مِنَ الرِّبَا …….. فَإِن لَّمْ تَفْعَلُوا فَأْذَنُوا بِحَرْبٍ مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ [البقرة: 278–279]
"O you who believe! Fear Allah and give up what remains of usury… but if you do not, then be informed of a war from Allah and His Messenger."
② وَإِن طَائِفَتَانِ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ اقْتَتَلُوا … [الحجرات: 9]
"And if two groups of the believers fight each other, make peace between them. But if one of them rebels against the other, then fight the one which transgresses until it returns to Allah’s command."
③ The Prophet ﷺ said:
تقتل عمارا الفئة الباغية
"ʿAmmār (RA) will be killed by the rebellious group."
References: أحمد: 22/3 ، مجمع الزوائد: 241/7 ، تلخيص الحبير: 43/4
Thus, not every sinner is a muḥārib, and not every muḥārib is a disbeliever.
Reference: المحلى بالآثار: 277/12
◈ If the Muḥārib is a Disbeliever
If the muḥārib is a non-Muslim, he too is subject to the same ḥadd as a Muslim muḥārib. However, if he repents from muḥārabah while remaining a disbeliever, his repentance is accepted due to the generality of the verse.
But if he embraces Islam, then all his past sins are erased by Islam.
Reference: السيل الجرار: 371/4
