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