The Book of Hudood

Hadd for Theft

حَدِّ السَّرِقَة

The Book of Dhihar

Glossary

Chapter on the Ḥadd (Penalty) for Theft 1650

If one1651 steals one-fourth of a dinar of gold, three dirhams of silver, or the equivalent of either one of them of any other property, 1652 taking it out of the ḥirz (customary place for safeguarding similar properties), 1653 his right hand will be amputated from the wrist and cauterized. 1654 If he does it again, his left foot will be cut from the ankle and cauterized. If he does it again, he should be imprisoned, but no more than one hand and one foot may be cut.

وَمَنْ سَرَقَ رُبْعَ دِيْنَارٍ مِنَ اْلعَيْنِ، أَوْ ثَلاَثَةَ دَرَاهِمَ مِنَ اْلوَرِقِ، أَوْ مَا يُسَاوِيْ أَحَدَهُمَا مِنْ سَائِرِ الْمَالِ، وَأَخْرَجَهُ مِنَ اْلحِرْزِ، قُطِعَتْ يَدُهُ اْليُمْنىٰ مِنْ مِفْصَلِ اْلكَفِّ وَحُسِمَتْ. فَإِنْ عَادَ، قُطِعَتْ رِجْلُهُ اْليُسْرٰى مِنْ مِفْصَلِ اْلكَعْبِ وَحُسِمَتْ. فَإِنْ عَادَ حُبِسَ، وَلاَ يُقْطَعُ غَيْرُ يَدٍ وَرِجْلٍ.

Theft can only be established by the testimony of two trustworthy (witnesses) or an acknowledgment

لاَ تَثْبُتُ السَّرِقَةُ إِلاَّ بِشَهَادَةِ عَدْلَيْنِ، أَوِ

1650. Introduction
Please see the appendix on ḥudood. It must be remembered here that ‘Umar (RA) suspended this penalty in the year of famine. This penalty is meant to be upheld in a community where justice is afforded to all, but where some of them transgress, despite the lack of necessity, and violate the sanctity of others’ property. Within the proper context, it is meant to be a deterrent to those criminals and to those considering a career in crime. Where this is implemented, the rates of theft are dramatically lower although the punishment is rarely executed in actuality. In Saudi Arabia, for example, only two to four cases of amputation take place annually. (Frank Vogle, Islamic Law and Legal System. Leiden: Brill, 2000, 246-47; Vikør, 266. From J. Brown’s Stoning and Hand Cutting: Understanding the Hudud and the Shariah in Islam.)

1651. This punishment is applicable to sane adults only.

1652. This is the position of the majority. (-H): The threshold is 10 dirhams. One who steals less than this is usually stealing to afford the minimal requirements of sustenance. One-fourth dinar of gold is 1.063 grams. One may not be cut if it was possible that he or she did not know that Islam prohibits stealing or that the value of the stolen property exceeded the niṣâb (threshold) for cutting.

1653. If the thief spoiled the property before taking it out, for example by eating or slaughtering it, there will be no cutting.

1654. To stop the bleeding and save the life of the offender.

(repeated) twice.

اعْتِرَافٍ مَرَّتَيْنِ.

(The thief) is not cut unless the one whose property was stolen demands his property. If the owner gives or sells it to the thief before (going to the authorities), the cutting is cancelled; if he or she does it after that, it is not cancelled.

وَلاَ يُقْطَعُ حَتَّى يُطَالِبُ اْلمَسْرُوْقُ مِنْهُ بِمَالِهِ، وَإِنْ وَهَبَهَا لِلسَّارِقِ، أَوْ بَاعَهُ إِيَّاهَا قَبْلَ ذٰلِكَ، سَقَطَ اْلقَطْعُ، وَإِنْ كَانَ بَعْدَهُ، لَمْ يَسْقُطْ.

If (the value of the property) falls below the niṣâb after it is taken out (of the ḥirz), the cutting is not annulled, but if that depreciation happens before, then (cutting) is not obligatory. If he is cut, he must (still) return the stolen property if it exists. If it is lost or damaged, then he must return the value of it.

وَإِنْ نَقَصَتْ عَنِ النِّصَابِ بَعْدَ اْلإِخْرَاجِ لَمْ يَسْقُطِ اْلقَطْعُ، وَإِنْ كَانَ قَبْلَهُ لَمْ يَجِبْ. وَإِذَا قُطِعَ، فَعَلَيْهِ رَدُّ اْلمَسْرُوْقُ، إِنْ كَانَ بَاقِيًا، أَوْ قِيْمَتُهُ إِنْ كَانَ تَالِفًا.

Hadd for Theft

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