The ruling on administering anesthesia to a thief’s hand before amputation and the method of amputation

Question:
Honorable Shaykh, is it permissible to administer anesthesia to a thief’s hand before amputation?

Answer:
No, it is not permissible to administer anesthesia to it. The pain must be felt, because if it is anesthetized, he does not feel the pain. It is not permissible to anesthetize it, because this removes the wisdom behind the amputation in Islam. This is not a treatment; this is a hudud punishment. Therefore, he is not given a house [to stay in] so that he may taste the pain. Rather, his hand is cut off by the most gentle method possible, by the easiest method possible, and he is not tortured. This is done by restraining him on the day of the amputation so that he does not escape, and his hand is held until the joint from which it is to be cut is clearly identified. Then, a sharp blade is run over it once, cutting it. A very sharp blade, if run over it once, cuts it. So his hand is cut off by the easiest and simplest method possible. It is not cut with a dull blade.
Nor is he left to thrash about; rather, he is restrained, and his hand is held until the joint from which it is to be cut is clearly identified. Then, the blade is run over it quickly so that it is done, and he is not tortured. Using a complete machine or running the blade over him two or three times, this tortures him. Also, as you heard, he is not left to bleed; he is treated with what stops the bleeding and heals the wound.