Al-Miqdad ibn al-Aswad reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, asked his Companions about fornication and they said, "It is unlawful. Allah and His Messenger have made it unlawful." He said, "It is less serious for a man to fornicate with ten women than for him to fornicate with his neighbour's wife." Then he asked them about stealing. They replied, "It is unlawful. Allah and His Messenger have made it unlawful." He said, "It is less serious for a man to steal from ten houses than it is for him to steal from his neighbour's house."