Fatwa ID: 01356

Answered by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Question:

I want to ask a question in the light of quran & shariyat, if we are stealing electricity I mean we are preaparing food on stolen electricity or we are getting income from stolen electricity ( I mean our works are running on stolen electricity) so this food and income is halal or not. And also if the electricity officer come to our house for inspection and we check them & beat them then it is permissible in the Islam, 

Answer:

In the name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the most Merciful.

The general ruling is that one cannot use another’s property without their permission. Therefore, because it is another’s property it is not permissible to take their property without explicit permission.

Furthermore, the Prophet of Allah has said: “A Muslim may not take another’s property without their permission.” (Sunan Baihaqi)

The food you have cooked using the electricity unlawfully attained will be permissible to consume. It is similar to offering salah on a usurped land, where a person’s salah is accepted, the same will be said regarding the aforementioned scenario. However, care should be taken this is not done in the future.

Finally, it will not be permissible to hit the electricity officer who comes to check your electricity.

Only Allah Knows Best

Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham.