The Legal Penalty for Theft

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An Important Clarification

In light of recent attempts by some to sensationalise my views by taking them out of their intended context, I would like to categorically express that the answer below does not, in any way, call for amputation in non-Islamic states. The implementation of the law on theft is only applicable under an Islamic State, and as such, this is merely an academic and theoretical discussion, since Britain is not an Islamic state. The aim is to provide insight into the Islamic legal system to enrich understanding, debate and discussion. I do not of course endorse the implementation of this law in places where people choose not to have it.

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The different penalties prescribed by Shari’ah are not in order to inflict harm on people and make them suffer; rather the Shariah concept for imposing penalties for the various crimes is that they prevent harm, destruction and anarchy in the society. They are not prescribed in order to harm people, but the contrary.

Allah Most High says:

“In the law of retaliation there is (saving of) life to you, O you men of understanding.” (Surah al-Baqarah, 179)

Due to the idea behind these various penalties being imposed not to make an individual suffer, rather to create a better society as a whole, the Shariah laid down certain strict rules and conditions in order for the punishment to be established or enforced. These strict conditions can be seen in all the various penalties that have been imposed.

The case with theft and stealing is the same, in that certain conditions have been laid down for the penalty to be imposed. If the conditions are met, only then will such a penalty be enforced.

Conditions for the penalty of theft:

The following are the conditions which must be met in order to establish the penalty of theft:

1) The one who steals is sane

2) He has reached puberty

3) He steals equivalent to the amount (nisab) or more. The Nisab is one Dinar or ten Dirhams (i.e. 4.374 grams of gold).

The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) said:

“There is no cutting (of hands) for stealing that is less than ten Dirhams.” (Musnad Ahmad)

Sayyida A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) reports that “The hands were not cut in the time of the Messenger of Allah for stealing worthless things.” (Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah)

A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) narrates that: “The hand of a thief was not cut off during the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give peace) except for stealing something equal to a shield in value.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, 6792, & Sahih Muslim, 1685)

A shield was worth one Dinar at that time, as narrated by Ibn Abbas in Sunan Abu Dawud & Sunan Nasa’i

4) He steals the article from a place that meets the requirements of security and safeguarding. This security is considered when the article is safeguarded by a guard or by it being locked up in a place.

5) The article is in the ownership of another person.

6) There is no confusion in it (as to whether he took it by way of theft or for some other reason).

7) It was stolen secretly (not by force, etc…).

If any of the above conditions are not met, then the penalty of theft will not be established.

Allah Most High says:

“As to the thief, male of female, cut off his or her hands. A punishment by way of example from Allah, for their crime.” (Surah al-Ma’idah, 38)

As far as the evidence and testimony is concerned, stealing will be established by self admittance (iqrar) once or by the testimony (shahadah) of two adult males. The witnesses will be asked the full details of the incident, as not to make an error.

A person’s hand is not amputated when he steals: less than the equivalent of 4.374 grams of gold, from a place that does not meet the requirements of security, something that is useless, something that is in general ownership such as water in the river, sticks from the wood, etc…, food that rots very quickly such as milk, meat, fruits, etc…, articles that are unlawful due to the possibility that one had an intention of getting rid of it, such as musical instruments.

The penalty:

The penalty for the one who steals (when the above conditions are met) is that his/her right arm is amputated. If a person steals a second time, his left foot is amputated; if a third time, then he will be imprisoned until he repents, but no further amputation will take place.

Sayyiduna Ali (Allah be pleased with him) says:

“I feel guilty in front of Allah if I leave him without hands (i.e. amputating both) by which he eats, and feet, by which he walks.” (Sunan Darqutni, al-Bayhaqi & Musannaf ibn Abi Shayba)

The above are some of the important aspects relating to the penalty of theft. It has been primarily based on the famous Hanafi work al-Ikhtiyar li ta’lil al-Mukhtar, P341-351).

And Allah knows best