قَالَ مُصَنِّفُ هَذَا الْكِتَابِ رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ لَا قَطْعَ عَلَى مَنْ يَسْرِقُ مِنَ الْمَسَاجِدِ وَ الْمَوَاضِعِ الَّتِي يُدْخَلُ إِلَيْهَا بِغَيْرِ إِذْنٍ مِثْلَ الْحَمَّامَاتِ وَ الْأَرْحِيَةِ وَ الْخَانَاتِ وَ إِنَّمَا قَطَعَهُ النَّبِيُّ ص لِأَنَّهُ سَرَقَ الرِّدَاءَ وَ أَخْفَاهُ فَلِإِخْفَائِهِ قَطَعَهُ وَ لَوْ لَمْ يُخْفِهِ لَعَزَّرَهُ وَ لَمْ يَقْطَعْهُ.
The compiler of this book (may Allah سبحانه وتعالى have mercy on him) commented: "There is no cutting of the hand for theft committed in mosques or in places where entry is allowed without permission, such as bathhouses, mills, and inns. The Prophet (may Allah سبحانه وتعالى bless him and his family) ordered the cutting of the thief's hand because he stole the cloak and concealed it. If he had not hidden it, the punishment would have been a discretionary penalty (ta'zir), not the cutting of the hand."
