18th question about islam

Chapter 5 verse 38 says , " And (as for) the male thief and the female thief, cut off their hands as a recompense for that which both committed, a punishment by way of example from Allah. And Allah is All-Powerful, All-Wise"

39.  "But whosoever repents after his crime and does righteous good deeds, then verily, Allah will pardon him. Verily, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."

This is the verse Ronn. Even if  it were only hadiths, we would try our best to implement it for it is from a chosen Prophet. And if the person deserves this punishment in an Islamic state, i would not hesitate to chop him. Even if i were the thief, i would present myselves to cut my wrists. But  fear of punishment stops me to steal. Fear of God, does stop me too.

Exodus 21: 

16 And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.

 17 And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death.

 20 But if this thing be true, and the tokens of virginity be not found for the damsel:

 21 Then they shall bring out the damsel to the door of her father's house, and the men of her city shall stone her with stones that she die: because she hath wrought folly in Israel, to play the whore in her father's house: so shalt thou put evil away from among you

 19 Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place;

 20 And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard.

 21 And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.

Shasta'sAunt wrote: This is about punishment from God.

Not the way I see it.  If God wants to cut off somebody's hands for a minor crime, then let God do it.  He doesn't need you or me to do His dirty work.  (And please don't try to tell me there's some valuable moral lesson I need to learn from such butchery.)

Why always leave Christianity out?

Because this discussion is not about Christianity, for one thing.  Because it is no defense of Islam to claim that Christianity is no better, for another.  Because Christ never said anything about cutting off body parts.  Because Romans 13:4 is obviously not to be taken literally (nobody uses swords anymore).