Cutting off the hands if someone steals.
Q. When someone steals, are we to cut off their hands or hand?
A. The act of cutting off the hands of a thief is an injunction of the Shariah. However, penalties of this nature are only implemented through the Islamic Court system where the governance of the territory is that of Islam. There is a detailed process that a Qazi goes through with a person who is guilty of this crime, before he issues the order of cutting off the hands. We, who live in countries that are not governed with Islamic law, are not allowed to implement such punishments on our own accord, based on our personal/individual investigations. This is against the rules of the Shariah.
In cases of this nature, the relevant authorities of the country will deal with such crimes.
And Allah knows best.
Mufti Waseem Khan