I was sleeping in the mosque while covered by a Khamīsah cloak of mine whose price was thirty dirhams. A man came and snatched it away from me. The man was seized and brought to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) who ordered that his hand should be cut off
عن صفوان بن أمية، قال: كنت نائما في المسجد عليَّ خَمِيْصَةٌ لي ثمن ثلاثين درهما، فجاء رجل فاخْتَلَسَهَا مِنِّي، فَأُخِذَ الرجل، فَأُتِيَ به رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ، فَأَمَرَ به لِيُقْطَعَ، قال: فأتَيْتُهُ، فقُلتُ: أَتَقْطَعُهُ من أجل ثلاثين درهما، أنا أبيعه وأُنْسِئُهُ ثمنها؟ قال: «فَهَلَّا كان هذا قبل أن تأتيني به».
Explanation
Safwān ibn Umayyah (may Allah be pleased with him) was sleeping in the mosque covered by his checked cloak. A thief swiftly snatched that cloak away, but he was caught and brought to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) to be punished for theft. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) ordered that the hand of the thief should be cut off.
It seems that Sawfān,(may Allah be pleased with him) felt sympathy for the thief, so he said to the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him): "Will you cut off his hand for the sake of only thirty dirhams?" Then he suggested to sell the cloak to the thief on credit and give him time until he can pay its price.
The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said that this pardon should have been made before bringing the thief to him, because pardon is void if it is made after any of the prescribed corporal punishments is brought to the judge or ruler.
Source
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