Chapter on Absconding Slaves
Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh|Volume 3|Book 1|Chapter 53
وَ رَوَى عَلِيُّ بْنُ رِئَابٍ عَنْ أَبِي عُبَيْدَةَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ قَالَ: "إِنَّ اَلْعَبْدَ إِذَا أَبَقَ مِنْ مَوَالِيهِ ثُمَّ سَرَقَ لَمْ يُقْطَعْ وَ هُوَ آبِقٌ لِأَنَّهُ بِمَنْزِلَةِ اَلْمُرْتَدِّ عَنِ اَلْإِسْلاَمِ وَ لَكِنْ يُدْعَى إِلَى اَلرُّجُوعِ إِلَى مَوَالِيهِ وَ اَلدُّخُولِ فِي اَلْإِسْلاَمِ فَإِنْ أَبَى أَنْ يَرْجِعَ إِلَى مَوَالِيهِ قُطِعَتْ يَدُهُ بِالسَّرِقَةِ ثُمَّ قُتِلَ وَ اَلْمُرْتَدُّ إِذَا سَرَقَ بِمَنْزِلَتِهِ".
Ali ibn Ri'ab narrated from Abu Ubaydah, from Abu Abdullah عليه السلام. Imam عليه السلام said: "Indeed, if a slave escapes from his masters and then steals, his hand is not cut off while he is a fugitive, because he is like one who has apostatized from Islam. However, he is invited to return to his masters and re-enter Islam. If he refuses to return to his masters, his hand is cut off for the theft, and then he is executed. And the apostate, if he steals, is treated in the same manner."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh