Question: what is the philosophy of cutting hands in Islam?

[cabdixakim]

from Allah we are and to him is our return.Arabic is a very diverse and very rich language,the Arabic word used there(Qad3) in that context means "cutting off".Besides that the prophet(s.a.w)did command cutting off of thieves hands several times in his presence as narrated in several Ahadith.
just for the sake of argument just making a cut on the thieves hand (as in the case of women in surah yussuf) is nowhere close to justice and would have been every thief's dream come true.As for the calculation even
5:39 and 12:32 are both 44 do we say the verses mean the same?this religion isn't based on assumption and logic.
what did the earlier nations say when their prophets came to them with the way of life from Allah. Allah says in ghaffir verse 83,"then when their messengers came to them with clear arguments they exulted in what the had with them of knowledge and that at which they used to mock befell them."
ow! muslims the prophet(s.a.w)said,"Islam began as something strange and it will revert to being strange as it was in the beginning,so good tidings for the strangers(i.e who hold tight to it).

I am not sure about muslims(being human beings) but Islam is absolutely perfect.wal-lahu A'alam
Al-lahuma ina naudhu bika minan-nifaq.

 

[Precious Star]

W

Assalam aleykum sis,

Sorry but this interpretation does not stack up with the tradition of the Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). There are numerous narrations about this. Even the hand of the Makhzumi woman was cut off by order of the Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). There is a very strong consensus that the hand is cut off at the wrist, provided that the conditions for the hadd for theft have been met (thief must be sane, of the age of responsibility, value of goods stolen, storage requirements etc). A wound on the hand would be easily concealed and no use at all as a deterrent to others.

When you cut off someone's hand at the wrist, you are also severing their major artery, veins, blood flow, tendons etc. The person will bleed to death, but before that they will go into shock from the trauma. If they survive, there will be permanent damage to the severed limb -- that is, the forearm -- due to the amputation if the associated arteries and tendons. In the 21st century we have developed prostheses but the person will need a forearm amputation so that the prosthesis can attach to the elbow joint.

Ever wonder why people who are suicidal slit their wrists? Because the severing of the major artery will cause them to bleed to death.

So basically, what you are saying is that the proper interpretation is that a person who steals will die. Surely, in 7th century Arabian dessert, there weren't a team of vascular surgeons on standby (along with sterile instruments, antiseptics, and anesthesia)?

 

[Umm Shareef]

My understanding is that the wound was cauterised to prevent the blood loss you speak of.

Your description certainly makes a distressing vision, but then that is the whole point - it is designed to strike fear into everyone who witnesses it or even hears about it, so that they resolve never ever to go near this crime themselves. It is not something that is intended to be administered every five minutes.