It is narrated from Nafi‘ that a slave of Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) had run away and committed theft. Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) sent this slave to Sa‘id bin al-‘As, who was the governor of Madinah, to have his hand cut off. Sa‘id bin al-‘As refused and said: When someone runs away, his hand is not cut off. Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: In which Book of Allah did you find this ruling? Then Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) ordered, and his hand was cut off.

Hazrat Zuraiq bin Hakeem apprehended a runaway slave who had committed theft. Then this issue seemed difficult to him, so he wrote to Umar bin Abdul Aziz, who was the Amir al-Mu'mineen at that time, and he also wrote that he had heard that if a slave runs away and then commits theft, his hand should not be cut off. Umar bin Abdul Aziz replied in writing and referred to his letter and said: You have written that you heard that if a slave is a runaway and commits theft, his hand should not be cut off, whereas Allah has said: "As for the thief, male or female, cut off their hands as a recompense for what they have earned, a punishment from Allah. Allah is Mighty, Wise." So if this slave has stolen the equivalent of a quarter dinar or more, then cut off his hand.

Hazrat Qasim bin Muhammad, Salim bin Abdullah, and Urwah bin Zubair used to say: When a runaway slave steals to the extent for which the hand is to be cut off, then his hand will be cut off.

Imam Malik, may Allah have mercy on him, said: In our view, there is no difference of opinion in this matter.