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What is the ruling on theft driven by circumstances for a young man studying abroad?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

Islam has forbidden theft and considered it one of the most heinous crimes. Its punishment is cutting off the hand of the thief, as Allah Almighty says: "And the thief, male and female, cut off their hands as recompense for what they earned, a deterrent from Allah. And Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise." This ruling preserves wealth and safeguards dignity, and it is a deterrent for those with weak souls. Circumstances do not justify theft. If you are unable to cover your expenses, seek help from charitable people and those eligible for zakat, instead of committing this crime which tarnishes the reputation of the religion and the country.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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