[39]. Theft must be proven either by confession or by the testimony of two reliable eyewitnesses, and it must be a deliberate, non‑opportunistic breaking‑and‑entering.
In the Prophet’s ﷺ time a notable woman from the Makhzūm clan committed theft. The Quraysh worried about how to handle the case and asked, “Who will speak to the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ on her behalf?” They chose Usāmah ibn Zayd, the beloved of the Messenger ﷺ, to intercede. Usāmah went to plead for her, but the Prophet ﷺ asked, “Are you interceding regarding one of Allāh’s prescribed punishments?” Turning to the people, he warned them: “O people! Those who came before you were destroyed because when a noble among them stole they pardoned him, yet when a weak person stole they punished him. By Allāh, if Fāṭimah, the daughter of Muḥammad, were to steal, I would cut off her hand.”
[40]. Those who were given the Scripture before Islam are better off either following the doctrines of the Qur’an or reinstating their own respective Scriptures in their pristine, uncorrupted, devoutly acting and ruling by them and purifying their hearts. Purification is a way to prepare for drawing near to Allāh. It can also be a way to cleanse oneself of sins and receive forgiveness and salvation.The Qur’an and the Sunnah speaks often of the heart, usually in reference to our spiritual state. The heart is the center of our being, where our thoughts and emotions originate. A clean heart is essential to a right relationship with Allāh. Allāh says, "No, rather what they used to do 'of sins' has placed rust upon their hearts." Qur’an chapter 83:14.
How can our heart be pure, if we are sinful? The answer is that Allāh cleanses our hearts when we repent and turn to Him. He washes away our sin and gives us a new heart - one that is full of His love and desire to please Him. What does it mean in the Qur’an to love Allāh and His messenger, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ with a pure heart? It means having an undivided loyalty to Allāh - loving Him above all else and following His messenger, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. This kind of love comes from a clean heart. When we have this kind of love for Allāh, it will overflow into every area of our lives - including our relationships with others. Otherwise we will be exactly the opposite, deniers of the Truth, opposers of peace, just like the unbelieving Jewish.