Stealing electricity from the state on the grounds that it does not give its citizens their rights
Question

                What is the ruling on stealing electricity from the state? Please note that the state does not give citizens their rights in all things.
Praise be to Allah.
    It is not permissible to steal electricity from the state, 
    whether that is done by tinkering with the electricity meter, or by using 
    tricks to avoid paying bills, or by any other means, because that involves 
    cheating, deceiving and consuming people’s wealth unlawfully. 

    The fact that the state does not give the citizens their 
    rights does not make it permissible to steal from the public wealth. These 
    resources, such as electricity and other things, belong to the Muslims as a 
    whole, so stealing from them is a transgression against the public wealth, 
    not only against the government and its employees. 

    The Standing Committee was asked: Is it permissible to stop 
    electricity or water meters in a kaafir state so as to weaken that state? 
    Please note that the state takes unjust taxes from me which I pay 
    unwillingly. 

    They replied: 

    That is not permissible, because it is consuming people’s 
    wealth unlawfully. End quote. 

    Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, 
    23/441 
The Standing Committee 
    was also asked: is it permissible to use tricks to avoid paying bills for 
    electricity, water, television, gas and so on? Please note that most of 
    these things are provided by publicly owned companies. 

    They replied: 

    That is not permissible, because it is consuming people’s 
    wealth unlawfully and is a failure to fulfil trusts. Allaah says 
    (interpretation of the meaning): 

    “O you who believe! Eat not up your property among 
    yourselves unjustly except it be a trade amongst you, by mutual consent. And 
    do not kill yourselves (nor kill one another). Surely, Allaah is Most 
    Merciful to you”

    [al-Nisa’ 4:58] 

    “Verily, Allaah commands that you should render back the 
    trusts to those, to whom they are due”

    [al-Nisa’ 4:29]

    end quote. 

    Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, 
    23/441 

    We have already responded to the specious arguments offered 
    by those who regard it as permissible to steal electricity from the state. 
    Please see the answer to question number
    70274. 

    And Allaah knows best.