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Question

I have seen on pakistani television one scholar who said if we steal two pennies and if we died we will have to lose 700 prayers. Is it correct sir? In Oman a scholar said: there is no connection between prayers and stealing.Can we recite the Qur'an and Tasbeeh such as 'Lahi lah illalah subhan Allah Allah akbar' without Wudu?Is watching TV lawful?

Answer

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.

As for your first question, we state that theft is a major sin.
Allah says: {Cut off (from the wrist joint) the (right) hand of the thief, male or female, as a recompense for that which they committed, a punishment by way of example from Allâh. …..} [5:38]
The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said: "Allah cursed a thief who steals an egg (since he will do what is worse in the future such as stealing valuables) that causes cutting off his hand." [ Bukhari and Muslim ]
Also, borrowing money with the intention of not repaying it constitutes a major sin.
The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said: "whoever borrows the other's wealth with the intention of repaying it, Allah will help him settle it, and whoever borrows the other's wealth with the intention of spoiling it (or not repaying it), Allah will spoil him." [ Bukhari ]
But, it is not Haram if one borrows with the intention of repaying. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) borrowed and repaid a debt.
Then, as indicated in the above Hadith, whoever borrows money with the intention of repaying, Allah will help him do so.
So, one who takes another's wealth unjustly, he commits a major sin and Allah will punish him severely.
In the Prophetic Hadith: "Do you know who is the bankrupt?" The Prophet's companions said: 'one who has no money nor property'. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said: "The bankrupt among the Muslim Ummah is one who will come on the Day of Judgement with prayers, fasting and Zaka'h, but he cursed someone, defamed another one, took the wealth of a third one unjustly, killed someone and beat some one. So, each one will be given from his (the bankrupt) good deeds, and if his good deeds run out before each one receive his right; their misdeeds will be thrown on him (the bankrupt) and then he will be thrown in the Hell-Fire." [ Muslim ].
The above Hadith gives a clear indication to those who take the other's property unjustly, i.e. they will take his good deeds instead of their money.
As for specifying the losing of the reward of 700 prayers, this is no evidence in Shari'a in this concern.
2- There is no harm to perform Zikr Allah without ablution.
Ali said: 'Allah's Messenger (SAW) used to teach us the Qur'an and eat with us after answering the call of nature, i.e. without wudu.' Another narration records: 'nothing prevents the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) from recitation of al-Qur'an except in case of ceremonial impurity' [ Abu Dawood ] And you know that al-Qur'an is the best form of Zikr.
For Shari'a ruling on T.V., please check our Fatwa No. 84494.
Allah knows best.

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