Drew68.
Good to know.
Normally, I avoid replying to those idiots who have signed up and contribute nothing except to do their part in lowering the median IQ of this place. Seriously, you should've been here back in 2004. It was a whole different crowd. The bar was set much higher.
In your case, I'll make an exception.
Am I a Muslim? I like booze and pork too much for their religion and I've never been a praying fellow, much less five times a day so I doubt I'd fit in.
I have visited several Muslim countries. I suspect you haven't so let me fill you in. There's a few things they do get right. Now we might find the amputation of hands barbaric, and it is, but to Arabs, thievery is something they take very seriously. Back when they were nomads in the desert, every belonging they owned was needed to survive. Anything stolen from them; a blanket, food, water, a camel, condemned them to death unless they could quickly find a replacement. To steal from someone was to kill them and punishments were meted out accordingly.
As someone who has traveled Arabia, one thing I've noticed is that their cities are free of urban black crime. You can leave your car unlocked and a Rolex sitting on the driver seat and it will be there when you return. You can walk the streets at night and not have to look over your shoulder at an ATM machine. It's nice.
I feel safer on the streets of Manama, Dubai or Muscat than I do on the streets of Jacksonville, Florida. No black crime.
So this thief nearly loses a hand robbing a mosque? Oh well... Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. No sympathy from me.