If A Man Lets A Thief Have What He Stole, After Bringing Him Before The Ruler, And Mention Of The Differences Reported From 'Ata In The Narration Of Safwan Bin Umayyah About That
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ حَاتِمِ بْنِ نُعَيْمٍ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا حِبَّانُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ، عَنِ الأَوْزَاعِيِّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي عَطَاءُ بْنُ أَبِي رَبَاحٍ، أَنَّ رَجُلاً، سَرَقَ ثَوْبًا فَأُتِيَ بِهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأَمَرَ بِقَطْعِهِ فَقَالَ الرَّجُلُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ هُوَ لَهُ . قَالَ " فَهَلاَّ قَبْلَ الآنَ " .
'Ata' bin Abi Rabah narrated that: a man stole a garment, and was brought before the Messenger of Allah, who order that his hand be cut off. The man said: "O Messenger of Allah, he can keep it." He said: "Why (did you not say that) before now?"