5. Surah Al-Ma'idah
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَالسَّارِقُ
وَالسَّارِقَةُ
فَاقْطَعُواْ
أَيْدِيَهُمَا
جَزَاء بِمَا
كَسَبَا...
5: 38. As to the thief, male or female,
- cut off his or her hands:
a punishment by way of example,
C742. Here we touch upon jurisprudence. The Canon Law jurists are not unanimous as to the value of the property stolen, which would involve the penalty of the cutting off of the hand. The majority hold that petty thefts are exempt from this punishment.
The general opinion is that only one hand should be cut off for the first theft, on the principle that "if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee" (Matt. 18:8).
Apparently in the age of Jesus thieves were crucified (Matt. 27:38).
... نَكَالاً مِّنَ اللّهِ وَاللّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ ﴿٣٨﴾
from Allah, for their crime: and Allah is Exalted in Power.
فَمَن
تَابَ مِن بَعْدِ
ظُلْمِهِ وَأَصْلَحَ
فَإِنَّ اللّهَ
يَتُوبُ عَلَيْهِ...
5: 39. But if the thief repents after his crime, and amends his conduct, Allah turneth to him in forgiveness;
... إِنَّ اللّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ ﴿٣٩﴾
for Allah if Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
Asad’s Version:
5: 38 Now as for the man who steals and the woman who steals, cut off the hand of either of them in requital for what they have wrought, as a deterrent ordained by God: for God is almighty, wise.
5: 39 But as for who repents after having thus done wrong, and makes amends, behold, God will accept his repentance: verily, God is much-forgiving, a dispenser of grace.