'Uthman bin Abi Al-Walid said: "I heard 'Urwah bin Az-Zubair say: "Aishah used to narrate that he Prophet of Allah said: The hand (of the thief) should not be cut off except for a shield or its equivalent in value. And he said that 'Urwah said: A shield is (worth) four Dirhams. And he (the narrator) said: I heard sulaiman bin Yasar say that he heard 'Amrah say: I heard 'Aishah narrate that she heard the Messenger of Allah say: The hand (of the thief) should not be cut off except for four Dinars or more".
The Prophet Muhammad was known for his mercy and justice so it is important to note that he only prescribed this harsh punishment when absolutely necessary in order to protect people's rights and maintain peace in society. He also taught us to be generous with our possessions so that we can help those who are less fortunate than us instead of resorting to theft out of desperation or greediness.
