Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

Hazrat Abu al-Duha and Hazrat Sha'bi state that Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) used to say: When a thief commits theft multiple times, I will cut off his hand and foot, and then if he steals again, I will hand him over to the protection of the prison.

The father of Hazrat Ja'far narrates that Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) would not exceed in this matter, that he would cut off one hand and one foot of the thief. Then, if he was brought again after that, he would say: Indeed, I feel ashamed that he would not even be able to purify himself for his prayer, but you should keep the Muslims safe from his evil and spend on him from the public treasury.

Hazrat Zuhri states that Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq set the limit for cutting in the case of a thief to one hand and one foot.

Hazrat Mak'hool narrates that Hazrat Umar bin Khattab said: When a thief commits theft, cut off one of his hands. Then if he steals again, cut off one of his legs. But do not cut off his other hand; leave it so that he may eat with it and clean himself after relieving himself. However, imprison him among the Muslims.

Hazrat Mansur says that Ibrahim said: Do not leave the son of Adam like an animal. Leave one of his hands free so that he may eat with it.

Hazrat Qasim narrates that Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq intended to cut off the other leg after cutting off one hand and foot. Upon this, Hazrat Umar said to him: The Sunnah is to cut off the hand.

Hazrat Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) narrates that I saw Hazrat Umar bin Khattab cut off a man's hand after having already cut off one of his hands and feet.

Hazrat Abdul Malik states that Hazrat Ata was asked whether more than one hand and one foot of a thief would be cut off. He replied: No, but he will be imprisoned.

Hazrat Yahya bin Abu Kathir narrates that Najdah wrote a letter to Hazrat Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) and asked, "Did the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) cut off the foot after the hand?" So he wrote in reply, "Indeed, the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did cut off the foot after the hand."

Hazrat Harith bin Abdullah bin Abu Rabi’ah and Hazrat Abdur Rahman bin Sabit, both state that a slave was brought to the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Indeed, he had committed theft, so the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) had his hand cut off. Then he committed theft again, so the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) had his foot cut off. Then he was brought again, so the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) had his hand cut off. Then he was brought again, so the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) had his foot cut off.

Hazrat Sha'bi and Hazrat Abdullah bin Muslima narrate that a thief was brought to Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), so he cut off his right hand. Then he was brought again, so he cut off his left foot. Then he was brought a third time, so he said: "Indeed, I feel ashamed to cut off the hand with which he eats and cleans himself." In the narration of some narrators, it is stated: He beat him and imprisoned him.

Hazrat Abdullah bin Muslima narrates that Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) used to say regarding the thief: When he commits theft, I will cut off his one hand; then if he commits theft again, I will cut off his one foot; then if he commits theft again, I will imprison him in jail.

Hazrat Amr bin Dinar states that Najdah wrote a letter to Hazrat Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) and asked him about the thief. So he wrote back to him with an answer similar to the statement of Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him).

Hazrat Simak narrates from some of his companions that Hazrat Umar bin Khattab sought consultation from the companions regarding a thief, so all of them agreed upon the statement of Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him).