Taking Milk or Fruits Without Permission: Need and Limits
Author: Imran Ayyub Lahori
Milking someone’s livestock, or eating their fruits or grain, falls under the same ruling — it is not permissible without the owner’s permission.
However, if a person is in need, they should first call out to the owner of the camel, livestock, or orchard.
❶ In the Farewell Sermon, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
فإن الله حرم عليكم دمائكم وأموالكم وأعراضكم
"Indeed, Allah has made your blood, your wealth, and your honor sacred among you."
Bukhari: 1742, 4403; Muslim: 66
❷ Ibn ʿUmar (RA) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
لا يحلبن أحدكم ما شية أحد إلا بإذنه
"None of you should milk someone else’s livestock without their permission."
Bukhari: 2435; Muslim: 1726; Ibn Mājah: 2302; Muwaṭṭaʾ: 2/971; Bayhaqī: 9/358
❸ Samurah ibn Jundub (RA) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
إذا أتى أحدكم على ماشية فإن كان فيها صاحبها فليستاذنه فإن أذن له فليحتلب وليشرب وإن لم يكن فيها أحد فليصوت ثلاثا فإن أجابه أحد فليستاذنه فإن لم يجبه أحد فليحتلب وليشرب ولا يحمل
"When one of you comes upon livestock, if its owner is present, he should seek permission. If granted, he may milk and drink. If no one is present, he should call out three times; if someone answers, seek permission. If no one answers, he may milk and drink, but must not carry any away."
Sahih: Irwāʾ al-Ghalīl: 2521; Abu Dawood: 2619; Tirmidhi: 1296
❹ Abu Saʿīd al-Khudrī (RA) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"When one of you comes to a garden and wishes to eat from it:
فليناد صاحب الحائط ثلاثا فإن أجابه وإلا فليا كل
let him call the owner three times. If he answers, fine; otherwise, he may eat."
Sahih: Irwāʾ al-Ghalīl: 252; Ahmad: 3/7; Ibn Mājah: 2300; Abu Yaʿlā: 2/439; Ibn Ḥibbān: 1143; al-Ḥākim: 4/132
Author: Imran Ayyub Lahori
Ruling on Using Someone’s Livestock or Produce Without Permission
Milking someone’s livestock, or eating their fruits or grain, falls under the same ruling — it is not permissible without the owner’s permission.
However, if a person is in need, they should first call out to the owner of the camel, livestock, or orchard.
- If the owner grants permission, they may eat or drink.
- If the owner does not respond, the person may consume only the amount needed to fulfill the necessity — but must not take anything away secretly.
❶ In the Farewell Sermon, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
فإن الله حرم عليكم دمائكم وأموالكم وأعراضكم
"Indeed, Allah has made your blood, your wealth, and your honor sacred among you."
Bukhari: 1742, 4403; Muslim: 66❷ Ibn ʿUmar (RA) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
لا يحلبن أحدكم ما شية أحد إلا بإذنه
"None of you should milk someone else’s livestock without their permission."
Bukhari: 2435; Muslim: 1726; Ibn Mājah: 2302; Muwaṭṭaʾ: 2/971; Bayhaqī: 9/358❸ Samurah ibn Jundub (RA) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
إذا أتى أحدكم على ماشية فإن كان فيها صاحبها فليستاذنه فإن أذن له فليحتلب وليشرب وإن لم يكن فيها أحد فليصوت ثلاثا فإن أجابه أحد فليستاذنه فإن لم يجبه أحد فليحتلب وليشرب ولا يحمل
"When one of you comes upon livestock, if its owner is present, he should seek permission. If granted, he may milk and drink. If no one is present, he should call out three times; if someone answers, seek permission. If no one answers, he may milk and drink, but must not carry any away."
Sahih: Irwāʾ al-Ghalīl: 2521; Abu Dawood: 2619; Tirmidhi: 1296❹ Abu Saʿīd al-Khudrī (RA) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"When one of you comes to a garden and wishes to eat from it:
فليناد صاحب الحائط ثلاثا فإن أجابه وإلا فليا كل
let him call the owner three times. If he answers, fine; otherwise, he may eat."
Sahih: Irwāʾ al-Ghalīl: 252; Ahmad: 3/7; Ibn Mājah: 2300; Abu Yaʿlā: 2/439; Ibn Ḥibbān: 1143; al-Ḥākim: 4/132