Chapter on the Legal Punishment for Theft

"A servant continues to steal until, when the value of what he has stolen equals the blood money for his hand, Allah (swt), the Mighty and Majestic, exposes him."

Hadith.5099 - In the narration of Al-Sakuni from Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) from his father, Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as), that he said: "The hand of a thief is not to be cut off during a year of…

'I do not cut off (a hand) for stealing birds.'"

"Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) ordered the cutting off of a hand for stealing an iron helmet and for a shield that weighed thirty-eight ratl (a unit of weight)."

"So-and-so sent me to you to collect such-and-such," and the man gave it to him, believing him. Later, he met the original person and said: "Your messenger came to me, and I sent with him such-and-such," but the man…

"The hand of a thief is not to be cut off until he confesses to the theft twice. If he retracts his confession, he must compensate for what he stole, but his hand will not be cut off if there are no witnesses against…

Hadith.5104 - In the narration of Al-Sakuni, Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) said: "Every place that can be entered without permission, and a thief steals from it, there is no cutting off of the hand."

I asked Imam (as) about a child who steals. Imam (as) said: "If he is seven years old or younger, the punishment is lifted from him. But if he repeats the act after the age of seven, his fingertip is to be cut off or…

Hadith.5106 - A man came to Commander of the Faithful (as) and confessed to theft. Commander of the Faithful (as) asked him: "Do you recite anything from the Book of Allah (swt), the Mighty and Majestic?" The man…

Hadith.5107 - In the narration of Al-Sakuni, the Messenger of Allah (swt) (peace be upon him and his family) said: "There is no cutting (of the hand) for stealing fruit or kathar." And kathar refers to the inner core of…

"Commander of the Faithful (as) ruled in the case of a group of people who slaughtered a camel and ate it. They were investigated to determine who among them had slaughtered it, and they all testified against themselves…

I asked Imam (as) about a man who stole from the war spoils an amount that would normally require his hand to be cut off. Imam (as) said: "It should be examined how much his rightful share is. If what he took was less…

I asked Imam (as) about a man who rented a donkey and went to cloth merchants, bought a garment from them, and left the donkey with them. Imam (as) said: "The donkey should be returned to its owner, and the one who took…

Hadith.5111 - Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) said: "When a man committed theft for the first time, Commander of the Faithful (as) would cut off his right hand. If he repeated the theft, he would cut off his left…

Hadith.5112 - It has been narrated: "If he steals while in prison, he is to be executed."

Hadith.5113 - Abu Abdullah (as) was asked about the minimum amount for which a thief's hand is to be cut off. Imam (as) said: "A quarter of a dinar."

Hadith.5114 - In another narration, it is reported: "One-fifth of a dinar."

"Commander of the Faithful (as) would imprison him for life and would say, 'I feel ashamed before my Lord (azj) to leave him without a hand to clean himself with and without a foot to walk with to fulfill his needs.'"…

"When the legal punishment is carried out on a thief, he is to be exiled to another town. If a man steals and is not caught until he steals again and is then apprehended, and evidence is brought against him, with…

if a guest hosts another guest who then steals, his hand is to be cut. If a paralyzed person (ashall) steals, his right hand is to be cut off regardless of whether it is paralyzed or healthy. If he steals again, his left…

Hadith.5118 - "The grave robber (Al-nabbash), if he is known for doing that, is to have his hand cut off."

"Do you cut off (the hand) for stealing from the dead?" Imam (as) replied: "We cut for our dead just as we cut for our living."

"Step on him, O' servants of Allah (swt)." So, the people trampled him until he died.

"If a person kills but does not engage in combat and does not take wealth, he is to be executed. If he engages in combat and kills, he is to be killed and crucified. If he engages in combat and takes wealth but does not…

Hadith.5122 - Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) said: "The crucified person is to be taken down from the wooden structure after three days, washed, and buried. It is not permissible to keep him crucified for more…

Hadith.5123 - In the narration of Al-Sakuni from Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) from his father, Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as), it is reported: "Indeed, Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) crucified a man in…

"Whoever carries a weapon at night is considered a highway robber (muharib), unless he is a man who is not known for suspicion or wrongdoing."

I asked Abu Abdullah (as) about a man who leaves his house intending to go to the mosque or fulfill a need and is met or confronted by another man who strikes him and takes his garment. Abu Abdullah (as) asked: "What do…

I asked Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) about a man who stole a free woman and sold her. Imam (as) said: "There are four legal punishments in this case. The first is that since he stole, his hand is to be cut off.…

I asked Imam (as): "Tell me why the right hand and the left foot of a thief are cut off, but not the right hand and the right foot?" Imam (as) replied: "What a good question you have asked! If his right hand and right…

"His hand is to be cut off for that."

"If a male slave confesses to theft once before the Imam, his hand is to be cut off. Likewise, if a female slave confesses to theft before the Imam, her hand is to be cut off."

I heard Abu Abdullah (as) say: "If a slave confesses to theft, his hand is not to be cut off. However, if two witnesses testify against him, his hand is to be cut off."