What is the ruling on someone who steals out of hunger, and is he considered a thief subject to the prescribed punishment?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
Certain conditions are stipulated for the application of the *hadd* punishment for theft, among which is that the one compelled to steal due to hunger is not to be amputated. It has been reported from Imam Ahmad that there is no amputation during famine, and this is interpreted as applying to one who cannot find anything to eat or anything to buy with, for he has a ** concerning his taking of it. However, as for one who can find something to eat or something to buy with, he is subject to amputation, even if the price is expensive.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/67944
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- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 67944
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- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
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- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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