According to reports, a merchant from Telangana mysteriously disappeared after purchasing apples worth Rs 2 crore all without paying for them. Ishaq Ibrahim, the accused merchant, had been residing in Anni’s Khegsu Mandi in Himachal Pradesh for one and a half months. He kept sending away containers of apples every day after buying from the arhtiyas, promising to pay the money later.

The accused had slept in a room with an agent on Sunday night. He took advantage of the situation and fled via the room’s window, as per reports. When the suspected merchant did not appear on Monday morning, the arhtiyas began searching for him, according to Kumar Singh, Suresh Kumar, and Rajendra Kumar. However, he was nowhere to be seen. A complaint was then filed in this respect at the Luhri police station.

The accused’s name, according to the complainants, is Ishaq Ibrahim Atnookar. He is a resident of Mahbubnagar in Telangana. Krishan Thakur, president of the Khegsu Apple Market Association, has asked the police to apprehend the fugitive dealer as soon as possible. In the meantime time, DSP Anni Ravindra Negi stated that a complaint concerning the businessman’s vanishing act had been received and the police have launched a probe.

Ishaq Ibrahim purchased apples from Suresh Kumar for 80 lakhs, from Rajendra Kumar for 60 lakhs, and from Kumar Singh for 60 lakhs, as per the complaint. It is important to highlight that if the fleeing suspect is not captured promptly, suppliers will have to incur a huge loss.

Punishment for Theft in the Islamic Laws

A sin which is certainly a Greater one is stealing or thievery. Imam Riďa (a.s.) has included stealing among the Greater sins according to the tradition reported by Fazl Ibn Shazān. Amash says that Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (a.s.) has related from the Holy Prophet (S) that he said, “A believer cannot commit fornication and a believer cannot steal.” (Wasa’il ul-Shia)

Thus one who fornicates or steals is not a believer. Such a person is devoid of faith. Such a person lacks belief in Allah (S.w.T.) and the Day of Judgement. If such a person dies without repenting for his sins, he does not die a believer. Some of the ayats and traditions that are critical of Khayanat also include stealing. Stealing is absolutely Harām even if it is for a worthless object. To steal even a needle is Harām. However, the hands of a thief are cut only, if in addition to all the necessary conditions the value of the stolen goods exceeds a quarter misqal of gold.

Muhammad Ibn Muslim says that he inquired from Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (a.s.): “What is the minimum amount, stealing of which can make one liable to have his hands amputated?”
Imam (a.s.) replied, “A quarter of a dinar.”

“And on stealing two dirhams?”

“Even if it is a dirham more than a quarter of a Dinar. In all cases, the hands are severed.”

Muhammad Ibn Muslim further asked, “Then if one steals less than a quarter of a dinar, is he called a thief?”

Imam (a.s.) told him, “Every such person is a thief in the eyes of Allah who steals the property of the Muslims and keeps it for himself.” (That is, Allah will punish him with the punishment that is reserved for all those who steal.)

“But (in this world) his hands are not cut off. However, if he steals a quarter dinar or more his hands are severed. If the hands of those who steal less than a quarter dinar were also to be cut then we would find most of the people with their hands severed.”

Punishment for theft

The Almighty Allah (S.w.T.) says in Surah al-Mā’ida: “And (as for) the man who steals and the woman who steals, cut off their hands as a punishment for what they have earned, an exemplary punishment from Allah, and Allah is Mighty. Wise. But whoever repents after his inequity and reforms (himself), then surely Allah will turn to him (mercifully), surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.” (Surah al-Mā’ida 5:38-39)

The book Burhanul Qur’an mentions on page 170: “The opponents of Islam have raised objection against the penal code of Islam. They label such penalties to be primitive and inhuman and not acceptable in the twentieth century. The criticism is especially severe with regard to the punishment of theft and fornication. They trump up their arguments by saying that such crimes are a result of psychological disorders and that moral and psychological counseling can reform criminals. We admit that moral advice is one of the ways of reforming individuals. Certainly, moral lessons have a profound effect on guiding society in the right direction. We also do not reject the fact that most crimes are due to psychological and moral ills.

Islam has not overlooked moral training as a factor in the development of character but Islam also believes that in spite of such training if the individual is inclined towards crime he should be punished adequately. A breakdown in discipline and order begins if you ignore crime, eventually leading to a corrupt society.

References:

opindia.com