Is it Permissible to Steal From Non-Muslims Via Online Fraud From Another Country?
Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel
Question
I wonder if it is halal to steal money from banks of non-Muslim countries by fraud online, knowing that there is no visa or peace agreement between Muslim and non-Muslim countries? He does it from another country online. And when I say there is no visa or peace agreement, does that mean he is not residing in this non-Muslim country and has a visa or peace agreement from them
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate
I pray you are in good faith and health. Thank you for your question.
It is forbidden and entirely wrong to steal in any way, onsite or online, from non-Muslim countries, even if one is living in a remote place or island where there is no such agreement between the countries. Generally, one is free to practice in all of the world’s nations, and there is an agreement between them and other Muslim countries. All non-Muslim countries are Dar al-Sulh.
Dar al-Sulh is any country in which Muslims are free to practice the tenets of their faith and law and are in a position to invite others to Islam. Therefore, according to the traditional approach, Western countries are Dar al-Sulh.
[Amjad. M.Mohammed, Muslims in Non-Muslim Lands]
Stealing is a Major Sin in All Religions
Stealing is a major sin in Islam, and one of the fundamental teachings to refrain from, like fornication, cheating, murder, etc., revealed to all Prophets from the beginning of times.
Thus, it is one of the ten commandments revealed to Prophet Musa (peace be upon him); the same applies to the Sharia revealed to Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace).
Hence, we read in the sources that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) used to take oaths of allegiance from those migrating to Madina that they shall not steal.
In conclusion, stealing is a major sin in Islam, regardless of time and place. So, it is prohibited for Muslims to steal from non-Muslims.
I would like you to go through the valuable answers and links below. You will receive guidance and direction in sha Allah.
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Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Mawlana Ilyas Patel is a traditionally-trained scholar who has studied in the UK, India, Pakistan, Syria, Jordan, and Turkey. He started his early education in the UK. He went on to complete the hifz of the Quran in India, then enrolled in an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied the secular and ‘Aalimiyya sciences. He then traveled to Karachi, Pakistan. He has been an Imam in Rep of Ireland for several years. He has taught hifz of the Quran, Tajwid, Fiqh, and many other Islamic sciences to children and adults onsite and online extensively in the UK and Ireland. He taught at a local Islamic seminary for 12 years in the UK, where he was a librarian and a teacher of Islamic sciences. He currently resides in the UK with his wife. His interest is a love of books and gardening.
