Is it permissible to erect an electric fence around agricultural land to protect it from thieves, knowing that touching it could lead to the thief's death?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
Scholars call someone who attacks a person, property, or honor a "transgressor" (ṣāʾil). Repelling the transgressor is permissible and should be done with the least force possible. Therefore, it is not permissible to kill him if he can be repelled by less than that. However, if he cannot be repelled except by killing, then that is permissible, and there is no sin upon the killer. Based on this, it is not permissible to use a wire that leads to the death of a thief unless there is no other means to repel the thieves except that.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/105037
Where this answer came from
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- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 105037
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy