Chapter on the Legal Punishment for Theft

Al-Hasan ibn Mahbub narrated from Ali ibn Ri'ab from Zurarah from Abu Jafar Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir عليه السلام regarding a man who stole, and his right hand was cut off. Then he stole again, and his left foot was cut off. Then he stole a third time. Imam عليه السلام said: "Commander of the Faithful عليه السلام would imprison him for life and would say, 'I feel ashamed before my Lord عز وجل to leave him without a hand to clean himself with and without a foot to walk with to fulfill his needs.'" Imam Al-Baqir عليه السلام added: "When Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام would cut off the hand, he would cut it below the wrist joint, and when he would cut off the foot, he would cut it from the ankle." Imam Al-Baqir عليه السلام also stated: "Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام did not believe that any of the prescribed punishments should be pardoned."