Abu Huraira reported the Prophet as saying, “God curse a thief who steals an egg and has his hand cut off, and steals a rope and has his hand cut off!”*
(Bukhari and Muslim.)
*It has been suggested that baida (egg or steel helmet) should have the latter meaning and that a ship’s rope should be understood, but the translation above is usually accepted as the meaning.
Rafi‘ b. Khadij reported the Prophet as saying, “The hand is not to be cut off for taking fruit or the pith of the palm-tree.”
Malik, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Nasa'i, Darimi and Ibn Majah transmitted it.
