What is the ruling on stealing electricity from the state, given our knowledge that it does not give the citizen their full rights in everything?
It is not permissible to steal electricity from the state by any means, because that involves deception, fraud, and consuming people's wealth unjustly. The fact that the state does not give a citizen his due right does not permit him to steal public funds, as these resources belong to the general Muslim populace, and stealing from them is an aggression against public wealth. The Permanent Committee has affirmed the impermissibility of tampering with electricity or water meters or resorting to trickery to avoid paying bills, whether in a disbelieving state or otherwise, because that is from consuming people's wealth unjustly and failing to fulfill trusts, citing His (Allah's) saying: (Indeed, Allah commands you to render trusts to whom they are due) and (O you who have believed, do not consume one another's wealth unjustly but only [in lawful] trade by mutual consent. And do not kill yourselves. Indeed, Allah is ever Merciful to you).
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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