1069 – Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Allah curses the thief: he steals an egg and his hand is cut; he steals a rope and his hand is cut.” Agreed upon as well (1).

Points derived from the three hadiths

1 – Allah, exalted is He, has secured people’s blood, honor, and property by every measure that deters the corrupt and the aggressors. Thus He made the punishment for the thief—who surreptitiously removes wealth from its secure place—the amputation of the very limb with which he seized the stolen goods. This cutting expiates his sin, deters him and others from ignoble methods, and urges them to seek income through lawful and dignified means. The result is increased work, greater productivity, a thriving world, and ennobled souls.

2 – Out of His wisdom, He set the nisab—that is, the amount for which the hand is severed—at the equivalent of one-quarter of a gold dinar. This protects wealth, preserves life, establishes security, calms hearts, and prompts people to put their money into trade and investment.

3 – The hand is severed only for the thief, meaning the one who clandestinely removes property from its secure place. The ruling does not apply to the usurper, the robber, or the snatcher.

Al-Qadi ʿIyad (d. 544 AH) said: “Allah safeguarded wealth by obligating the amputation of the thief’s hand, but He did not prescribe that for offenses other than theft—such as snatching, robbery, or usurpation—because those crimes are comparatively rare, and because the property involved can normally be reclaimed by appealing to the authorities, and establishing proof in such cases is easy, unlike…”