A thief whose hand and foot are cut and who then steals again

Abu al-Duha and al-Sha'bi report that Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) used to say: "When the thief steals several times, I will cut off his hand and his foot. Then if he steals again, I will give him into the custody of the prison."

Mughirah reports from al-Sha'bi that Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) used to say: "When the thief steals several times, I will cut off his hand and his foot. Then if he does it again, I will give him into the custody of the prison."

Ja'far's father reports that Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) would not go beyond cutting off one hand and one foot of the thief. When he was brought to him after that, he would say: "I feel ashamed that he should be unable even to purify himself for his prayer. Rather, keep his evil away from the Muslims, and spend on him from the public treasury."

Al-Zuhri reports that Sayyiduna Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him) went no further, in the cutting off of a thief, than one hand and one foot.

Makhul reports that Sayyiduna Umar bin al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "When the thief steals, cut off one of his hands. Then if he steals again, cut off one of his legs. Do not cut off his other hand; leave it so that he can eat with it and clean himself after relieving himself. But imprison him away from the Muslims."

Mansur reports that Ibrahim said: "Do not leave the son of Adam like an animal. Leave him one hand so that he can eat with it."

Al-Qasim reports that Sayyiduna Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him) intended to cut off the other leg after one hand and foot had been cut off. Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said to him: "The Sunnah is to cut off the hand."

Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: "I saw Sayyiduna Umar bin al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) cut off a man's hand after one of his hands and one of his feet had been cut off."

Abd al-Malik reports that Ata was asked: "Is any limb of the thief to be cut off beyond one hand and one foot?" He said: "No, but he is to be imprisoned."

Yahya bin Abi Kathir reports that Najdah wrote to Sayyiduna Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) asking: "Did the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) cut off the foot after the hand?" He wrote back: "Indeed, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) cut off the foot after the hand."

Al-Harith bin Abdullah bin Abi Rabi'ah and Abd al-Rahman bin Sabit both report that a slave who had stolen was brought to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and he (peace and blessings be upon him) cut off his hand. Then he stole again, and he (peace and blessings be upon him) cut off his foot. Then he was brought again, and he (peace and blessings be upon him) cut off his hand. Then he was brought, and he (peace and blessings be upon him) cut off his foot.

Al-Sha'bi and Abdullah bin Salamah report that a thief was brought to Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), and he cut off his right hand. Then he was brought again, and he cut off his left foot. Then he was brought a third time, and he said: "I feel ashamed to cut off this hand of his, with which he eats and cleans himself." In the report of some of the narrators it says: he beat him and imprisoned him.

Abdullah bin Salamah reports that a thief was brought to Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), and he cut off his right hand. Then he was brought again, and he cut off his left foot. Then he was brought a third time, and he said: "I feel ashamed to cut off his hand, with which he eats and cleans himself." In the report of some of them it says: he beat him and imprisoned him.

Abdullah bin Salamah reports that Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) used to say concerning the thief: "When he steals, I will cut off one of his hands. If he steals again, I will cut off one of his feet. If he steals again, I will confine him in prison."

Amr bin Dinar reports that Najdah wrote to Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) asking him about the thief, and he wrote back to him the like of the statement of Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him).

Simak reports from some of his companions that Sayyiduna Umar bin al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) consulted the Companions about a thief, and they all agreed on the like of the statement of Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him).