Allah—mighty and majestic is He—whose words are true:

“As for the thief, male or female, cut off their hands as recompense for what they have earned.” [al-Mā’idah: 38]

He did not distinguish between small and large amounts. They also cited the Prophet’s statement, peace and blessings be upon him: “Allah has cursed the thief who steals an egg and has his hand cut off.” They took this as an indication from him that amputation applies to both small and large amounts. They mentioned other arguments as well, adducing them as evidence and relying on their apparent meaning. Yet these provide no proof for their position, for once a minimum threshold is established on the authority of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, it must be accepted and applied: an explanatory text governs an unelaborated one, and a specific text governs a general one.

The Prophet’s statement, peace be upon him, “Allah has cursed the thief who steals an egg and has his hand cut off,” is not intended to indicate that amputation is obligatory for both small and large amounts. It admits two interpretations:

First, the “egg” may mean an iron helmet.

Second, he may have said this to emphasize how little the stolen object is worth. Similarly, it has been said that the sacrifice for a newborn is recommended even if only a sparrow is offered, although a sparrow is neither offered nor valid for that sacrifice. Likewise, he instructed that a slave woman who commits fornication three or four times should be sold, even for a braided cord. There are many such examples. His statement would thus mean to deter people from theft and to stress how paltry the object for which a thief’s hand is cut off is compared with the loss of his hand. This is clear, and success comes from Allah.

Section: Determining the Minimum Value According to Those Who Require It

Those who require a minimum value disagree considerably over its amount. Some say that a thief’s hand is not to be cut off for less than one dirham. Others say that it is not to be cut off for less than two dirhams. Others say that it is not to be cut off for less than three dirhams. Others say that it is not to be cut off for less than a quarter of a dinar. Others say that it is not to be cut off for less than a quarter of a dinar or three dirhams. Others