English
Abu Hurayra (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: A thief who stole a cloak was brought to the Prophet (ﷺ). He said: I don’t think he stole. The thief said: Yes, O Messenger of Allah. He said: Take him, cut him, cauterize him, and bring him back. He was cut, cauterized, and returned. He said: Repent to Allah. He said: I repent to Allah. He said: Allah has accepted your repentance. [Narrated by al-Hakim in Al-Mustadrak, who said: Authentic per Muslim’s conditions]
Al-Baghawi narrated in Sharh al-Sunna on thief amputation from the Prophet (ﷺ): Cut him, then cauterize him. Al-Daraqutni, Abu Dawud in Marasil, Abd al-Razzaq, and others narrated similarly.
Commentary and footnotes (2)
Note 2
(2) The statement: Cut him, then cauterize him, etc.: Cauterization is recommended per al-Shafi‘i, obligatory per us, as the hadith’s apparent command implies obligation, with no diversion from its literal meaning, especially since neglecting it risks death, and punishment deters, not destroys, making it obligatory otherwise. (Gathered from Al-Durr al-Mukhtar, Nayl al-Awtar, and Al-Hidaya)
Note 2
(٢) قوله: فاقطعواه ثم احسموه إلخ: يعني وتحسم ندبًا عند الشافعي ووجوبًا عندنا؛ لأن ظاهر الحديث الوجوب؛لكونه أمرًا، ولا صارف له عن معناه الحقيقي، ولا سيما مع كونه يؤدي الترك إلى التلف، والحد زاجر لا متلف؛ فإنه يصير واجبا من جهة أخرى. (الدر المختار) و(نيل الأوطار) و(الهداية) ملتقط منها.