Salam sir. I would really appreciate it if you could please respond to this email its very important to me. I would love to know your opinion about the punishment for theft in the Quran. I have examined many opinions fron Quranists about this but i will like to know your opinion Since you are an expert and you studied Islamic history and are better qualified to answer the question than people who are just relying on their emotions. I wouldnt have disturbed you knowing how busy you are but i cant seem to find the article on your site. I have heard that the Quran says that the instruction true meaning is to cut from their resources since the word translated as hand was used to in other verses of the Quran to mean resources as in the case with Abraham and Ishmael when trying to build the Kaaba. And also from the story of Joseph and his brothers as stated in The Quran and the punishment for theft as stated in the Torah. I have also heard that the word(translated a s cut off) is ambiguous and may be translated as cut(slightly) as the case of the women who were mesmerized with Joseph's beauty, mark or cut-off. Please what is your opinion about these answers. I dont think that it must be applied literally now though so you do not think that i am an extremist whatever your answer might be(since i currently subscribe to the Mutazili school of thought that the Scripture was created not eternal thus its laws (not principles) change in their application with time . I would also love to know your opinion of the Mutazili and if their opinions were truly refuted and not merely tossed aside like others by the Sunni.If you would give an answer to this please add some extra details(more then what wikipedia would provide). Please dont think i am asking these out of laziness i am trying to start learning Arabic too. You and others like you are constantly in my prayers. May God continue to bless your work and striving. We hope for an actual physical mosque and Ummah(not the virtual ones on the internet) soon in The US and all over the world. From Nigeria with love and much respect. Faruq