Chapter on the Legal Punishment for Theft
Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh|Volume 4|Book 1|Chapter 12
وَ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى أَمِيرِ اَلْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ فَأَقَرَّ بِالسَّرِقَةِ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَمِيرُ اَلْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ "أَ تَقْرَأُ شَيْئاً مِنْ كِتَابِ اَللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ" قَالَ نَعَمْ سُورَةَ اَلْبَقَرَةِ فَقَالَ "قَدْ وَهَبْتُ يَدَكَ لِسُورَةِ اَلْبَقَرَةِ " فَقَالَ اَلْأَشْعَثُ أَ تُعَطِّلُ حَدّاً مِنْ حُدُودِ اَللَّهِ تَعَالَى فَقَالَ "وَ مَا يُدْرِيكَ مَا هَذَا إِذَا قَامَتِ اَلْبَيِّنَةُ فَلَيْسَ لِلْإِمَامِ أَنْ يَعْفُوَ وَ إِذَا أَقَرَّ اَلرَّجُلُ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ فَذَاكَ إِلَى اَلْإِمَامِ إِنْ شَاءَ عَفَا وَ إِنْ شَاءَ قَطَعَ".
A man came to Commander of the Faithful عليه السلام and confessed to theft. Commander of the Faithful عليه السلام asked him: "Do you recite anything from the Book of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Majestic?" The man replied: "Yes, Surah Al-Baqarah." Imam عليه السلام said: "I have pardoned your hand for the sake of Surah Al-Baqarah." Al-Ashath objected, saying: "Are you suspending one of the punishments prescribed by Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Exalted?" Commander of the Faithful عليه السلام replied: "And what do you know about this matter? When evidence is established, the Imam has no authority to pardon, but when a man confesses against himself, then it is up to the Imam - if he wishes, he may pardon, and if he wishes, he may order the cutting."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh