Al-Matalib al-'Aliyah 1865 — The punishment for theft

It is narrated from al-Harith bin Abdullah bin Abi Rabi'ah and Ibn Sabit al-Ahwal (may Allah have mercy on them both) that a slave was brought into the noble presence of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and it was said that he had stolen; the evidence against him had been established and the stolen property had also been recovered from him. (Hearing this) the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "This is the slave of orphans who have no other (support) besides him," and so he (peace and blessings be upon him) let him go. Then he was brought a second, third and fourth time (for the same crime), and he (peace and blessings be upon him) let him go all four times; but when he was brought the fifth time, he (peace and blessings be upon him) cut off his hand, then the sixth time he cut off his foot, then the seventh time his (other) hand and the eighth time his (other) foot. Al-Harith said: This matter was four against four, in that he (peace and blessings be upon him) pardoned him four times and punished him four times.
This narration is mursal, because al-Harith and Ibn Sabit are not Companions but Successors. Furthermore, Imam al-Harith narrated it through Abd al-Wahhab bin Ata' from Ibn Jurayj, and Hammad bin Mas'adah also narrated it from Ibn Jurayj. Likewise, Imam Abu Dawud recorded it in his book 'al-Marasil' through the route of Muhammad bin Sulayman al-Anbari, and Imam al-Baghawi in his 'Mu'jam' through Harun bin Abdullah, from Hammad bin Mas'adah.