Islam and Yoga 16

After Sathya comes

 Astaya (abstaining from theft)

Islam and Astaya

The Prophet cursed the thief because he is a corrupt element in society, and if he is left unpunished, his corruption will spread and infect the community i.e. theft is a social evil

So an appropriate deterrent punishment of cutting the hand up to a level is prescribed 

A noblewoman stole at the time of the Prophet and one close to Prophet wanted to intercede for her. 

The Prophet became angry and said:

“Those who came before you were destroyed because if a rich man among them stole, they would let him off, but if a lowly person stole, they would carry out the punishment on him.  If my daughter were to steal, I would cut off her hand.” 

 A combination of conditions as follows must be fulfilled before the hand of a thief is cut off: 

1- The thing should have been taken by stealth

2- The stolen property should be something of worth and value

3- The stolen property should have been taken from a place where people usually put their property, such as a cupboard, for example.

4- The theft has to be proven, either by the testimony of two qualified witnesses or by the confession of the thief twice.

5- The person from whom the property was stolen has to ask for it back

A person who steals due to hunger and poverty is not liable to have his hands cut off, nor is a person who has been coerced into stealing, punished

Islam and Brahmacharya

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