300 THE KORAN 



eral directions given for making this will in a solemn 

 and authentic manner. The Mohammedan punish- 

 ment of theft is unreasonable, and In-eathes the 

 spirit of a barbarous age. " If a man or woman 

 steal," says the Koran, " cut off their hands, in retri- 

 bution for what they have committed."* According 

 to the practice of the best Moslem courts, amputa- 

 tion is not to be inflicted unless the value of the 

 ■ stolen articles amounts to five dinars, or forty shil- 

 lings,! and unless they be found in custody. In all 

 cases where the penalty attaches, the right hand is 

 to be struck off for the first offence, and the left hand 

 for the second. Incarceration is the punishment for 

 reiterated offences. The whole of a band of robbers 

 are answerable for the acts of any one of their num- 

 ber ; and if murder is also committed by them on 

 the highway, they are put to death, even if the blood- 

 avenger should forgive them ; the sentence may be 

 crucifixion or amputation, or both, at the discretion 

 of the judffe. 



With regard to injuries or crimes of an inferior 

 nature, where no particular punishment is awarded 

 by the ICoran, and which are not expiable by fine or 

 compensation, the Mohammedans, as the Jews did 

 in similar cases, have recourse to the bastinado, the 

 most common chastisement used in the East at the 

 present day ; and which is performed by beating the 

 offender on the soles of his feet. As they are fond 

 of a celestial origin for their civil as well as sacred 

 institutions, the cudgel, the instrument generally 



* In cases of theft, which are punished by amputation, slaves 

 and fieemen are on an equal footing ; for the Moslem doctors 

 have gravely decided that it is impossible to halve amputation.— 

 Mill's Hist. p. 325. D'Ohsson (Tab. de I'Emp. Ott.), Reland 

 (De Relig. Mahom.), Bobovius (De Litur. Turc), will explain 

 the laws and liturgy of the Moslems. 



t Five dinars may be reckoned equal to about 21. 6s. 3d., at 

 the present value of money. 



