What is the prescribed punishment for the theft of state antiquities according to Islamic Sharia?
Ancient artifacts are public property. If an individual steals from them, their hand is not to be amputated because they have a semblance of ownership in them. Most scholars hold this view, citing the hadith of Ibn Abbas concerning the theft by a slave from the one-fifth share [of war spoils], and the sayings of Umar and Ali that a thief from the public treasury is not subject to amputation because they have a right in it. Thus, the existence of a semblance of ownership prevents amputation. However, the absence of amputation does not mean that a grave sin deserving of disciplinary punishment has not been committed.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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