The hadith of Abu Hurayrah: "He who steals an egg has his hand cut off, and he who steals a rope has his hand cut off"

The questioner:
The majority have responded to the argument the Zahiris rely on from the hadith of Abu Hurayrah with several answers. One of them is that it was abrogated by the hadith of 'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), but there is a consideration here; for it is necessary to clarify the date. The second is that it is interpreted as referring to an iron egg and a ship's rope, as al-A'mash stated in what al-Bukhari and others reported from him. The third is that this is a means to gradual progression in theft, from small to large.

The Shaykh:
Yes.

The questioner:
That this is a means to gradual progression in theft, from small to large,

The Shaykh:
And this is the correct view, in the sense of clarification, and that the Prophet intended to give an example with the egg and the rope; for a child or a man may be lenient with a small thing until it leads him to something for which his hand is cut off. Yes.

The questioner:
What is your opinion? If a rope is stolen, is the white rope cut off?

The Shaykh:
If it reaches the value of a quarter of a dinar.