Allah The Almighty wants Muslim societies to live in peace and security so that every member would feel secure about his life, honor and wealth. Thus, Islam prohibits aggression against people's lives, honor and property. Moreover, Islam has also made them part of the five necessary things that must be preserved, namely: religion, mind, life, offspring and wealth.
Theft is a plague that endangers the security of individuals and societies. Therefore, the Sharee‘ah warns Muslims against it and deters those tempted to steal the properties of others. For instance, the Prophet would take an oath from a person who wanted to embrace Islam that he would not commit serious offences, such as stealing people's money. The Prophet said in this regard to somebody: “Give me the oath [of allegiance] that you will not associate anything with Allah, steal or commit adultery…” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Also the Prophet stated that a true believer whose faith is firm would not dare to steal; He said: “An adulterer is not a believer at the time he commits adultery, a drinker of alcohol is not a believer at the time of drinking, and a thief is not a believer at the time of stealing …” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] One such deterrent is the Hadeeth which was narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayrah in which the Prophet said: “Allah curses the thief who steals an egg, for which his hand is cut off, or steals a rope, for which his hand is cut off.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] That is to say, he steals an egg first, then gets accustomed to theft until he steals a thing that is equal to or more than a quarter of Dinar, which is the lower threshold where he would deserve his hand to be cut off and the prescribed punishment of Islam is implemented.
Consider how Islam terrifies Muslims against theft, to the extent that the Prophet cursed the thief! There are also other proofs that show how evil theft is. One of these proofs is the Hadeeth in which the Prophet told us about some groups that he saw in Hell experiencing their punishment. He said: “Hell was displayed to me and you saw me moving back for fear that its heat might affect me. I saw a man who was a criminal dragging his intestines in the fire; he [was someone who] would steal [the belongings] of pilgrims with his crook. If he was noticed he would say, ‘It became [accidentally] entangled in my crook’; but if he was not noticed he would take the [stolen object].” [Muslim]
Amputation is the Ultimate Deterrent
If these deterrents do not work and those with weak selves dare to steal people's property, and their theft is brought before a judge who proves their guilt according to the criteria that the Sharee‘ah has provided, the guilty hand must be cut off to deter the thief and preserve people's wealth and security. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {[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.} [Quran 5:38]
When such a prescribed punishment was implemented in Muslim lands, people were secure about their property. Traders and owners of shops would leave the doors of their shops open and go to perform prayer without fear of any aggression. However, when Muslim states adopted man-made laws that they imported from Europe, crimes that were spread in non-Muslim countries transferred to them. The security of the environment became weak when the prescribed punishments of Islam were abandoned, and it was precisely for this reason that once an act of stealing was reported to the Prophet he would apply the prescribed punishment without favoritism towards any person, whatever his status or lineage was. The Prophet declared it openly: “If Faatimah, the daughter of Muhammad, were to steal, I would cut her hand off.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
The Prescribed Punishments are an Expiation
Implementing the prescribed punishment on the deserving offender breeds security and deters people who are weak and easily tempted. It also expiates the guilt of such persons and becomes a means of repentance for him. ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn Al-‘Aas said, “A woman stole during the life of the Prophet and those from whom she stole brought her to him. They said, ‘O Messenger of Allah! This woman stole from us.’ Her people said, ‘We will ransom her for five hundred dinars.’ The Prophet said: ‘Cut her hand off.’ Her right hand was cut off. She asked, ‘Is there repentance for me?’ The Prophet said, ‘Yes, today you are as free of the sin as you were on the day when your mother gave birth to you.’ Then Allah The Almighty revealed the verse (what means): {But whoever repents after his wrongdoing and reforms, indeed, Allah will turn to him in forgiveness. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.} [Quran 5:39]"
Some of those who hate Islam try to encourage doubt by criticizing the corporal punishment that Allah The Almighty has prescribed. They do so under the pretext that theft does not deserve such a severe punishment. Their example in this regard is Abu Al-‘Alaa' Al-Ma‘arri, who objected to this punishment, saying,
“How is it that a hand whose value is five hundred dinars of gold, be cut off when it steals a quarter of a dinar?”
Al-Qaadhi ‘Abdul-Wahhaab, a Maaliki scholar, replied, “When it was honest, it deserved a high compensation, but when it proved treacherous, it became valueless.” Imam As-Sakhaawi also said in reply to this: “The honor of honesty made that hand precious, while the humiliation of betrayal made it worthless. Thus, ponder on the wisdom of The Proportioner.”
We implore Allah The Almighty to protect people and lands from every harm and evil, and to spread safety, security and prosperity among all Muslim countries.
The Internet remains the first ever outlet for advocates of true causes and meritorious values, so as to disseminate their knowledge, manners and benefits, at a time when the global media is mostly dominated by evil.
Naturally, though, the Web houses religious, intellectual and didactic trends from all over the world. No distinction is made in terms of available opportunities, except in accordance with [Internet users’] personal efforts, drive and financial capability.
Therefore, righteous scholars, students and male and female callers to Islam have set out to utilize the Internet. As such, they seek and propagate knowledge, and invite others to Islam through it, hoping for reward from Allah The Almighty. On their part, righteous women have made great contributions, which are collectively appreciated.
However, humans will be humans and they have innate dispositions and tendencies that cannot be altered, except with strenuous efforts and a constant struggle. [In light of this, we will mention] one of the major obstacles and greatest risks to the process of Da‘wah (call to Islam), which threatens to destroy all the hard work done for Islam and [its] knowledge, perhaps even giving rise to a moral degeneration. This is [the danger of] men and women, as two sexes with inherent mutual attraction, having the chance to form relationships with one another. Boys will be boys, and girls will be girls, regardless of their honest tendencies and sound intentions.
Therefore, when the Quran commanded the wives of the Prophet against softening their speech, so that corrupt-hearted men would not covet them, it was not [a manifestation of] an intellectual siege imposed on women. These were the most righteous ladies in the world being given a warning not to arouse the desires of men who were forerunners [in faith] and who lived at the time of the Prophet . What, then, should the situation be with women of these times, even if they are virtuous callers to Islam and righteous seekers of knowledge?
Any woman who claims that she is saved from temptation is, regrettably, deluded and conceited. Sadly, the real world records poignant incidents arising from relations that started off innocently and in the service of Da‘wah, ending only in a calamity that would make one shudder to even write about.
This takes place even as one [only wants to] establish chaste and brotherly relationships and simply under the umbrella of cooperation in righteousness and piety. The following are examples of Satanic ways to [mislead] women working online in the field of Da‘wah and for Islam.
The first way:
Women become members on forums or accept work as a moderator, with men they do not know or have even heard of before. Some website owners offer girls the task of supervising or administering their message boards, and exchange phone numbers and e-mail addresses with them, for the purpose of getting the job done.
Now, people usually have good intentions, but, with time, each party develops the courage to converse with the other about things outside the framework of the mission of Da‘wah. They speak about personal matters and may end up in the inevitable – a relationship.
The second way:
Some religious women browse websites and forums, where members are of both sexes. A subject may pique their interest and they may want to add a comment. Since that action is not allowed unless one provides an email address, she does so and then makes her point. Thereafter, Satan may make the one in charge of the forum think it is a good idea to encourage that serious commenter. Thus, he may send a gracious note to the woman, passing on nice words, cordial sentiments and a special offer for her to be an active member or a moderator of a sub-forum. Over time, the connection between them develops, until they end up in that notorious position [of a relationship].
The compliment may be sent by the male member directly to the woman’s e-mail address or [on the forum, in reply] to her comment on the subject. Over time, unfavorable events tend to take place.
The third way:
A woman who is relatively committed to her faith may register [on a forum] with an anonymous or male-sounding username. Then, she may get acquainted with a member posing as a female; due to the latter’s shrewdness and guile, the former may actually strongly believe the other to be a woman and seek advice, guidance and religious rulings. Afterwards, the one [posing as a female] may ask to meet with the woman, hosting her at home. She may accept the invitation, after revealing her true female identity, when trust has been built between her and her alleged female friend; but, it turns out to be a guy and a horrible crisis takes place!
The fourth way:
Some devout women may seek religious edicts or counseling from people who pretend to be scholars or have experience in parenting, for example, to attract their victims. These ladies would vent to them, about their concerns, personal problems and family conditions. The alleged scholar or parenting expert may gradually persuade the woman to tell him about her most private matters, in order for him to prescribe a successful solution, grant her an appropriate ruling and hold a proper consultation. When people like him achieve what they aimed for and are privy to the secrets they desired to know about the women, they blackmail them with that information. Thus, sins are committed and virtue is violated.
The fifth way:
Similar to the aforementioned situation, a Muslim woman may fall victim to some who claim to interpret dreams; such people are noticeably increasing by the day. Therefore, what is to say some of them would not tamper with the interpretation of certain visions, as long as it attracts clients, earns them fame and inducts them in to the ranks of noble and meritorious figures? But, this causes many women to become easy marks for dream interpreters, who deceptively use [their request for] dream analysis to trap those among them who are weak, in terms of personality, intellect and faith.
Please do not understand from these examples that we are generalizing in our judgments, exaggerating in our sayings or speculating regarding unseen matters. Reality witnesses the veracity of what we state and draws attention to its danger.
Hence, we should not trust all people without distinction, no matter how they appear.
Hadeeth experts from among the righteous predecessors would investigate and scrutinize the characters and lives of narrators, so as to distinguish whose reports can be accepted as authentic transmissions from the Prophet . This is despite the fact that many narrators of Hadeeth were actually religious and observed acts of worship. Yet, this was done to ensure the soundness of the traditions of the Prophet and based on knowledge of much fabricated input interposed by many fibbers and liars.
Hence, if people in ancient times lied about the Prophet and made up Hadeeths that he never said, could not some deceitful people [today] give false dream interpretations?
The sixth way:
Chat rooms are among the most dangerous and wicked innovations of those who seek corruption and violation of honor; they are venues for the breakdown of virtue and annihilation of modesty.
How many times has morality been breached in those rooms! Moreover, how often have they paved the way for unlawful intimacy!
Tempted by Satan, some righteous girls enter chat rooms, at times, out of curiosity and sometimes, to explore the unknown and do Da‘wah! They choose a made-up name and log onto these rooms of indecency and immorality. There, they come across very obscene words, and for the sake of reform and giving advice, these poor women tolerate that atmosphere of idiocy and impudence.
They chastely send out [words of] admonition and reminders, but quickly fall, themselves, into the face of immodest expressions that violate virtue. Time after time, the woman thus surrenders to her desire and slips into shameful sin.
Finally, I say again that I neither generalize in my judgments nor exaggerate in what I say. I am just protective of Muslim women and sisters, in terms of their faith and creed.
