Theft

Allaah The Almighty wants Muslim societies tolive in peace and
securityso that every member would feel secure about his life, honor
and wealth. Thus, Islam prohibits aggression against people's lives,
honor and property. Moreover, Islam has also made them part of the
five necessary things thatmust be preserved, namely: religion, mind,
life, offspring and wealth.
Theft is a plague that endangers the security ofindividuals and
societies. Therefore, the Sharee ' ah warns Muslims against it and
deters those temptedto steal the properties of others. For instance
the Prophet, , would take an oath from a person who wanted to embrace
Islam that he would not commit serious offences, such as stealing
people's money. The Prophet, , said in this regard to somebody: "Give
me the oath [of allegiance] that you will not associate anything with
Allaah, steal or commit adultery…" [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]
Also the Prophet, , stated that a true believer whose faith is firm
would not dare to steal; He said: "An adulterer is not a believer at
the time he commits adultery, a drinker of alcohol is not abeliever at
the time of drinking, and a thief is not a believer at the timeof
stealing …" [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim] One such deterrent is the Hadeeth
which was narrated on the authorityof Abu Hurayrah in which the
Prophet, , said: "Allaah curses the thief who steals an egg, for which
his hand is cut off, or steals a rope, for which his hand is cut off."
[Al-Bukhaari and Muslim] That is to say, he steals an egg first, then
gets accustomed to theft until he steals a thing that is equal to or
more than a quarter of Dinar , which is the lower threshold where he
would deserve his hand to be cut off and the prescribed punishment of
Islam is implemented.
Consider how Islam terrifies Muslims against theft, to the extent that
the Prophet, , cursed the thief! There are also other proofs that show
how evil theft is. One of these proofs is the Hadeeth in which the
Prophet, , told us about some groups that he saw in Hell experiencing
their punishment. He said: "Hellwas displayed to me and you saw me
moving backfor fear that its heat might affect me. I saw a man who was
a criminal dragging his intestines inthe fire; he [was someone who]
would steal [the belongings] of pilgrims with his crook. Ifhe was
noticed he would say, 'It became [accidentally] entangled in my
crook'; but if he was not noticed he would take the [stolen object]."
[Muslim]
Amputation is the Ultimate Deterrent
If these deterrents do notwork and those with weak selves dare to
steal people's property, and their theft is brought before a judge who
proves their guilt according to the criteria that the Sharee'ah has
provided, the guilty handmust be cut off to deter the thief and
preserve people's wealth and security. Allaah The Almighty Says (what
means): } [As for] the thief, the male and the female, amputate their
hands in recompense for what they committed as a deterrent
[punishment]from Allaah. And Allaah Is Exalted in Might and Wise. {
[Quran 5:38]
When such a prescribed punishment was implemented in Muslim lands,
people were secure about their property. Traders and owners of shops
would leave the doors of their shops open and go to perform prayer
without fear of any aggression. However, when Muslim states adopted
man-made laws that theyimported from Europe, crimes that were spread
in non-Muslim countries transferred to them. The security of the
environment became weak when the prescribed punishments of Islam were
abandoned, and it was precisely for this reason that once an act of
stealing was reported to the Prophet, , he would apply the prescribed
punishment without favoritism towards any person, whatever his status
or lineage was. The Prophet, , declared it openly: "If Faatimah, the
daughter of Muhammad, were to steal, I would cuther hand off."
[Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]
The Prescribed Punishments are an Expiation
Implementing the prescribed punishment on the deserving offender
breeds security and deters people who are weak and easily tempted. It
also expiates the guilt of such persons and becomes a means of
repentance for him. 'Abdullaah ibn 'Amr ibn Al-'Aas said, "A woman
stole during the life of the Prophet and those from whom she stole
brought her to him. They said, 'O Messenger of Allaah! This woman
stole from us.' Her people said,'We will ransom her for five hundred
dinars.' The Prophet said: 'Cut her hand off.' Her right hand was cut
off. She asked, 'Isthere repentance for me?' The Prophet said, 'Yes,
today you are as free of the sin as you were on the day when your
mother gave birth to you.' Then Allaah The Almighty revealed the verse
(which means): } But whoever repents after his wrongdoing and reforms,
indeed, Allaah will turn to him in forgiveness. Indeed, Allaah is
Forgiving and Merciful. { [Quran 5:39] "
Some of those who hate Islam try to encourage doubt by criticizing the
corporal punishment thatAllaah The Almighty has prescribed. They do so
under the pretext that theft does not deserve such a severe
punishment. Their example in this regard is Abu Al-'Alaa' Al-Ma'arri,
who objected to this punishment, saying,
"How is it that a hand whose value is five hundred dinars of gold, be
cut off when it steals aquarter of a dinar?"
Al-Qaadhi 'Abdul-Wahhaab, a Maaliki scholar, replied, "When it was
honest, it deserved ahigh compensation, but when it proved
treacherous, it became valueless." Imaam As-Sakhaawi also said in
reply to this: "The honor of honesty made that hand precious, whilethe
humiliation of betrayal made it worthless. Thus, ponder on the wisdom
of The Proportioner."
We implore Allaah The Almighty to protect people and lands from every
harm and evil, and to spread safety, security and prosperity among all
Muslim countries. - - ▓███▓ Translator:->
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