FatwaNegeri SembilanCrime & Sharia Law
Mencuri ketika kanak-kanak
What is the ruling on stealing goods or food from a shop as a child, and must one pay it back?
Short answer
A child who has not reached puberty is not punished and bears no sin for stealing.
A reference, not a fatwa. First sentence of the summary below — read the original fatwa and consult your state authority before acting.
- Authority
- Negeri Sembilan Mufti Department
- Status
- Opinion (irsyad)
- Series
- Soal Jawab Agama
- Topic
- Crime & Sharia Law
No evidence of gazettement in the source — this is not a gazetted fatwa.
Summary
A child who has not reached puberty is not punished and bears no sin for stealing. The stolen goods must still be returned because they involve liability for another person's right, either by the guardian or by the person himself once he has reached puberty. If the amount is known, it is returned as the item or its equivalent value in money, unless the owner waives it. If the amount is uncertain and the owner cannot be contacted, no liability remains.
Written in our own words from the original fatwa — check the source before acting on it.
Seorang kanak-kanak yang belum baligh, jika mencuri dia tidak dikenakan apa-apa hukuman. Dan tidak ada dosa baginya kerana Nabi s.a.w bersabda:
Read the full fatwa on the Negeri Sembilan website (new tab)
How to cite
Cite the original fatwa and its authority. Rujuk Fatwa is only where you found it.
Negeri Sembilan Mufti Department. “Mencuri ketika kanak-kanak”, date not stated. https://muftins.gov.my/soaljawab/mencuri-ketika-kanak-kanak/. Found via Rujuk Fatwa: https://rujukfatwa.com/en/fatwa/ruling-on-stealing-as-a-child/