✍ Based on the work of Sheikh Taqi al-Din Abi al-Fath, translated by Maulana Mahmood Ahmad Ghaznavi
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"Allah curses the thief who steals an egg, and his hand is cut off; who steals a rope, and his hand is cut off."
(Sahih al-Bukhari: 6882, 6899; Sahih Muslim: 1687)
The act of secretly taking someone's protected property (e.g., from their house, shop, or secure location) without their knowledge or consent is termed "theft" (Arabic: sarqah).
② The Gravity of the Crime:
Theft is a major sin (kabirah) in Islam. Allah has prescribed a specific hudud (fixed punishment) for it under Islamic law.
③ Cursed and Despicable Act:
The thief is cursed by Allah. It is a disgraceful and loathsome act that destroys a person's dignity and undermines the moral fabric of society.
④ Theft Often Begins with Small Items:
The Hadith mentions items like an egg or a rope not to specify the legal threshold, but to illustrate how theft often starts with minor items. Over time, as the habit strengthens, a person may commit more severe thefts, eventually becoming subject to the legal punishment (e.g., amputation of the hand).
⑤ Clarification on the Punishment:
This Hadith does not imply that one's hand should be cut off merely for stealing an egg or a rope. Instead, it reflects the shameful nature of theft, even if it's of seemingly insignificant items. The prescribed punishment applies when theft meets specific legal criteria, such as the value of the stolen item and its secure location.
وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ – And Allah knows best.
❖ Chapter: The Prescribed Punishment for Theft
Narrated by Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه):The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"Allah curses the thief who steals an egg, and his hand is cut off; who steals a rope, and his hand is cut off."
(Sahih al-Bukhari: 6882, 6899; Sahih Muslim: 1687)
❖ Key Insights and Lessons
① Definition of Theft in Islam:The act of secretly taking someone's protected property (e.g., from their house, shop, or secure location) without their knowledge or consent is termed "theft" (Arabic: sarqah).
② The Gravity of the Crime:
Theft is a major sin (kabirah) in Islam. Allah has prescribed a specific hudud (fixed punishment) for it under Islamic law.
③ Cursed and Despicable Act:
The thief is cursed by Allah. It is a disgraceful and loathsome act that destroys a person's dignity and undermines the moral fabric of society.
④ Theft Often Begins with Small Items:
The Hadith mentions items like an egg or a rope not to specify the legal threshold, but to illustrate how theft often starts with minor items. Over time, as the habit strengthens, a person may commit more severe thefts, eventually becoming subject to the legal punishment (e.g., amputation of the hand).
⑤ Clarification on the Punishment:
This Hadith does not imply that one's hand should be cut off merely for stealing an egg or a rope. Instead, it reflects the shameful nature of theft, even if it's of seemingly insignificant items. The prescribed punishment applies when theft meets specific legal criteria, such as the value of the stolen item and its secure location.
❖ Summary:
Stealing is a cursed and disgraceful act in Islam. Even if one begins with trivial things, theft can develop into a major crime over time. Islam has prescribed a severe punishment for it to protect people's property, maintain social justice, and deter crime. The seriousness of theft lies not in the value of the item alone, but in the breach of trust, integrity, and the rights of others.وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ – And Allah knows best.
