Surah Al-Ma'ida 5:38 — translation and meaning

المائدة · Verse 38 / 120 · Page 114

ۗ وَالسَّارِقُ وَالسَّارِقَةُ فَاقْطَعُوا أَيْدِيَهُمَا جَزَاءً بِمَا كَسَبَا نَكَالًا مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ

Word by Word

ۗ
وَالسَّارِقُ
wal-sariqu
And (for) the male thief
وَالسَّارِقَةُ
wal-sariqatu
and the female thief
فَاقْطَعُوا
fa-iq'ta'u
[then] cut off
أَيْدِيَهُمَا
aydiyahuma
their hands
جَزَاءً
jazaan
(as) a recompense
بِمَا
bima
for what
كَسَبَا
kasaba
they earned
نَكَالًا
nakalan
(as) an exemplary (punishment)
مِّنَ
mina
from
اللَّهِ
al-lahi
Allah
وَاللَّهُ
wal-lahu
And Allah
عَزِيزٌ
azizun
(is) All-Mighty
حَكِيمٌ
hakimun
All-Wise

Transliteration

Wassaariqu qassaariqatu faqta'oo aidiyahumma jazaaa'am bimaa kasabaa nakaalam minal laah; wallaahu 'Azeezun hakeem

Translation

[As for] the thief, the male and the female, amputate their hands in recompense for what they committed as a deterrent [punishment] from Allah. And Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise.

Verse interpretation (Tafsir)

As for those who are caught stealing, those in authority are to cut off the right hand of the male and female thief as a punishment from Allah for the crime of wrongfully taking people’s wealth, and to serve as a lesson and deterrent for them, as well as others. Allah is Mighty and nothing can overpower His decree. He is Wise in His decree and legislation.

Source: Al-Mukhtasar Tafsir — Tafsir Center for Quranic Studies.

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