Liability for Damages

**General Principle:** It is forbidden to transgress upon people's property and take it without right. Whoever transgresses upon another's property and destroys it - if that property was protected - must provide compensation. Likewise for whoever causes destruction of another's property by untying, opening doors, etc. **Livestock:** If one has livestock, he must guard them at night from damaging people's crops or harming them. If he neglects them and damage occurs, he is liable. - **Hadith:** The Prophet ﷺ ruled that property owners must guard their property during the day, and livestock owners must guard them at night. What livestock damages at night is the owners' liability. **Self-Defense:** An aggressor (sa'il) - human or animal - if he cannot be repelled except by killing, and is killed, there is no liability - because he killed in self-defense. - **Hadith:** "Whoever's property is sought without right, and he fights and is killed, he is a martyr" [Tirmidhi - hasan sahih] **Destroying Prohibited Items:** Whoever destroys what Allah has forbidden - like musical instruments, crosses, wine vessels, books of misguidance, indecent magazines and tapes - there is no liability. However, destruction should not be arbitrary but under the authority and supervision of the ruler - to ensure benefit and prevent harm and strife.