Al-Sharḥ al-Mumtiʿ - Ibn al-'Uthaymin - (14/336)

The second view on this issue is that the prescribed minimum is only one-quarter of a dinar, not three dirhams. Thus, if someone steals something worth three dirhams but not one-quarter of a dinar, his hand is not amputated.

But if he steals something worth one-quarter of a dinar, his hand is amputated, even if it is not worth three dirhams. This view is more correct, because the hadith of Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) is explicit on this point: “There is no amputation except for [the theft of] one-quarter of a dinar or more.” (1) As for the other hadith, that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) amputated [the hand of one who stole] a shield valued at three dirhams (2), it is understood to mean that three dirhams were equal to one-quarter of a dinar at that time. A dinar was twelve silver dirhams. This view is more correct.

As for the hadith: “May Allah curse the thief: he steals an egg and his hand is amputated, and he steals a rope and his hand is amputated.” (3)

The scholars have held two views concerning it. The first is that the egg refers to the helmet worn by a fighter on his head to ward off arrows, and that the rope means one of value, such as a ship’s rope.

The second is that it means that this thief may steal the egg

(1) Previously referenced; see p. 335. (2) Narrated by al-Bukhari in Kitab al-Hudud, chapter on Allah's saying, “As for the male thief and the female thief, cut off their hands”; and by Muslim in Kitab al-Hudud, chapter on the prescribed punishment for theft and its minimum threshold (1686), on the authority of Ibn Umar. (3) Narrated by al-Bukhari in Kitab al-Hudud, chapter on cursing the thief when he is not named (6783); and by Muslim in Kitab al-Hudud, chapter on the prescribed punishment for theft and its minimum threshold (1687), on the authority of Abu Hurayrah.

والقول الثاني في المسألة: إن النصاب ربع دينار فقط، وليس ثلاثة دراهم، فإذا سرق شيئاً يساوي ثلاثة دراهم، لكن لا يساوي ربع دينار، فليس عليه القطع. وإذا سرق ما يساوي ربع دينار فعليه القطع، وإن كان لا يساوي ثلاثة دراهم، وهذا القول أصح؛ لأن حديث عائشة ﵂ صريح فيه: «لا قطع إلا في ربع دينار فصاعداً» (١)، وأما الحديث الآخر أن الرسول ﷺ قطع في مجنٍّ قيمته ثلاثة دراهم (٢)، فهذا محمول على أن ثلاثة الدراهم تساوي ربع دينار في ذلك الوقت، والدينار اثنا عشر درهماً من الفضة، وهذا القول أصح. وأما حديث: «لعن الله السارق، يسرق البيضة فتقطع يدُه، ويسرق الحبل فتقطع يده» (٣). فللعلماء فيه قولان: الأول: أن المراد بالبيضة ما يلبسه المقاتل في الرأس لاستقبال السهام، والحبل، أي: الذي له قيمة، كحبل السفن. الثاني: أن يراد بذلك أن هذا السارق قد يسرق البيضة

(١) سبق تخريجه ص (٣٣٥). (٢) أخرجه البخاري في الحدود باب قول الله تعالى: ﴿وَالسَّارِقُ وَالسَّارِقَةُ فَاقْطَعُوا أَيدِيَهُمَا﴾، ومسلم في الحدود باب حد السرقة ونصابها (١٦٨٦) عن ابن عمر ﵄. (٣) أخرجه البخاري في الحدود باب لعن السارق إذا لم يسم (٦٧٨٣)، ومسلم في الحدود باب حد السرقة ونصابها (١٦٨٧) عن أبي هريرة ﵁.