Is not paying the landline phone bill Haram and a debt that must be paid, for which one will be held accountable?
Allah Almighty commanded the fulfillment of contracts and the rendering of trusts, and forbade consuming wealth unjustly. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Muslims are bound by their conditions." Accordingly, the service of providing electricity, water, or other utilities is for a known fee, and requesting its provision necessitates fulfilling the contract with the supplying entity, whether private or governmental. This due fee is considered a debt that must be settled. A debt is the obligation of a right that is due, encompassing both financial and non-financial rights. The Permanent Committee has issued a fatwa prohibiting resorting to deceptive means to avoid paying utility bills, as it constitutes consuming people's wealth unjustly and failing to render trusts.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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