Topics: Manners

Vigilante Justice: Is Extorting Money from a Driver for Damages Justifiable?

The Ethics of Self-Imposed Fines: A Case Study

Question: A truck passing through the village broke the power lines, and the villagers surrounded the driver and demanded 20,000 rupees, eventually settling for 9,000 rupees. However, repairing the lines only cost 1,000 rupees. Was this action justifiable, and was it permissible to take the extra money?

Answer: If the police were notified, then this became a police matter, and they should have handled it according to the law. However, if the villagers decided to handle it themselves, they should have called an electrician to repair the lines and charged the driver for the actual repair costs. Extorting an excessive amount of money from the driver is unjust and constitutes oppression.

Respondent: Sheikh Maqbool Ahmed Salafi Hafizahullah 

Jeddah Dawah Center, Saudi Arabia  

Interpreter: Hasan Fuzail

Author: IslamicHelper

IslamicHelper

Recent Articles

Dhul Hijjah: The Best Ten Days for Worship and Sacrifice

Learn why the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah are the most virtuous and how Qurbani embodies Islamic devotion. Read More

7 hours ago

Zina in Islam: FAQs on Slander, Repentance & Rulings

Does the worldly punishment for Zina clear the sin in the hereafter? Can an intoxicated person be punished? A detailed… Read More

1 day ago

Zina: Rulings on Child, Marriage & Inheritance

Can you marry someone pregnant from Zina? What is the lineage and inheritance of a child born from Zina? This… Read More

1 day ago

Zina: Islamic Punishment & Proof

A detailed explanation of Zina in Islam, its severe consequences, the prescribed punishments of lashing and stoning (rajm) in the… Read More

1 day ago

What Does Islam Say About Friendship?

Discover what Islam teaches about friendship, based on the Quran and Sunnah. Learn how to choose righteous friends and the… Read More

6 days ago

Women’s Rights in Islam Explained

Explore the comprehensive rights Islam grants to women, from spiritual equality to economic independence, and how these principles align with… Read More

6 days ago