Musnad Abi Ya'la 328 — I saw a man being brought to Sayyiduna Ali

Abu Matar (may Allah have mercy on him) said: I saw a man being brought to Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), and the people said that he had stolen a camel. Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said to him: "I do not think that you have stolen." He said: "Yes (I did)." He (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Perhaps you are under some misapprehension?" He said: "No, I did steal." He (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "O Qanbar, take him away, tie his finger (hand), light a fire, and call the butcher to cut it off, then wait until I come." When he (may Allah be pleased with him) came, he asked him: "Did you steal?" He said: "No." So he (may Allah be pleased with him) let him go. The people said: "O Commander of the Believers, why did you let him go when he had confessed before you?" He (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "I took him on the basis of his own word (his confession), and now I let him go on the basis of his own word (his denial)." Then Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said: A man who had stolen was brought to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him); he (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered that his hand be cut off and then wept. It was said: "O Messenger of Allah, why are you weeping?" He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "How can I not weep when the limbs of my Ummah are being cut off in your midst?" They said: "O Messenger of Allah, why did you not pardon him?" He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "That is an evil ruler who pardons the prescribed punishments (once the matter has come before him); rather, pardon one another among yourselves (before it reaches the ruler)."