The wisdom behind legislating the amputation of the thief's hand rather than killing him

Question:
May Allah reward you. The questioner says: You stated that if the thief were killed, people's wealth would not be protected, even though killing is more severe and harsher for the thief than merely cutting off the hand. What is the wisdom, may Allah preserve you?

Answer:
Because Allah did not legislate killing. As long as Allah did not legislate killing, it does not deter people; rather, what deters them is what Allah has legislated. For this reason, He said, "And Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise." He is Wise, Glorified and Exalted is He, in legislating the cutting off of the hand, and killing is not sufficient in its place. If killing were sufficient, Allah would have legislated it. Allah knows best and is best, Glorified and Exalted is He, in what benefits people. For perhaps, if his hand is cut off and he walks around with his hand missing, he becomes known among the people and is shamed. But if he is killed, it is over, and no one sees him or knows about him.