حد السرقة
Abu Umayyah al-Makhzūmi (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: A thief, who confessed his theft, was brought to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) but nothing was found with him. The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said to him: "I do not think you have stolen (anything)!" The man replied: "Yes I have." The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) repeated that to him twice or thrice, and then he ordered that his hand should be cut off. He was then brought to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) who said to him: "Ask Allah for forgiveness and repent to Him." The man said: "I ask Allah for forgiveness and turn to Him in repentance." The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) then said three times: "O Allah, accept his repentance."
عن أبي أمية المخزومي -رضي الله عنه- أن النبي -صلى الله عليه وسلم- أُتِيَ بلِصٍّ قد اعتَرَف اعترافًا ولم يوجد معه متاع، فقال رسول الله -صلى الله عليه وسلم-: «ما إِخَالُك سرقتَ»، قال: بلى، فأعاد عليه مرتين أو ثلاثًا، فأمر به فَقُطع، وجِيء به، فقال: «استغفِرِ الله وتُب إليه» فقال: أستغفرُ الله وأتوب إليه، فقال: «اللهم تب عليه» ثلاثا.
شرح الحديث :
According to the Hadīth, a man committed theft and confessed his crime. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) wanted to verify his confession. So, he told the man repeatedly that he believed that he did not commit that theft. However, when the man insisted on his confession and repeated it, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) became sure that he actually committed that theft, and ordered his hand to be cut off. Then, the man was brought to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) who asked him to repent to Allah, the Almighty, and so he did. Thereupon, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) supplicated for him and invoked Allah to accept his repentance. Muslim jurists considered this Hadīth as a basic evidence that a thief must be asked to repeat and confirm his confession twice or thrice.