Her husband  stole from a store, claiming that their prices were too high

1.We are surprised at your
husband’s actions which you have told us about, and we are amazed that
you describe him as not being  a thief and as being a committed
Muslim, when he has done something which the rank-and-file of Muslims
– let alone their scholars – know full well to be haraam.

 
We have nothing that we can advise you to tell him, apart from the ruling
on stealing, and that it is haraam, and that Allaah says in His mighty
Book (interpretation of the meaning):

“And
(as for) the male thief and the female thief, cut off (from the wrist
joint) their (right) hands as a recompense for that which they committed,
a punishment by way of example from Allaah…”

[al-Maa’idah
5:38]

The
punishment for stealing in sharee’ah is cutting off the right hand,
and the thief is still not free from blame after the punishment has
been carried out, until he restores the stolen property to its rightful
owner.

 
Allaah also says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And
eat up not one another’s property unjustly (in any illegal way, e.g.
stealing, robbing, deceiving)”

[al-Baqarah
2:188]

It was narrated from Ibn ‘Abbaas
(may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) addressed the people on
the Day of Sacrifice and said:

 
“O people, what day is this?” They said: “A sacred day.” He said, “What
land is this?” They said, “A sacred land.” He said, “What month is this?”
They said, “A sacred month.” He said: “Your blood, your wealth and your
honour are sacred to you, just as this day of yours in this land of
yours in this month of yours is sacred” – and he repeated it several
times. Then he raised his head and said, “O Allaah, have I conveyed
it? O Allaah, have I conveyed it?” Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased
with them both) said:

“By
the one in Whose hand is my soul, it was advice given to his ummah,
so let the one who was present convey it to the one who was absent.”
(Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1652).

 
A similar report was narrated in al-Saheehayn
from Abu Bakrah.

It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah
said: A man came to the Messenger of Allaah
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and said, “O Messenger of
Allaah, what do you think if a man comes to take my wealth?” He said,
“Do not give him your wealth.” He said, “What if he fights me?” He said,
“Fight him back.” He said, “What if he kills me?” He said, “Then you
will be a shaheed (martyr).” He said, “What if I kill him?” He said,
“He will be in the Fire (Hell).” (Narrated by Muslim, 140)

 
It was also narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Allaah cursed the
thief who steals an egg and has his hand cut off, and steals a rope
and has his hand cut off.” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 6401; Muslim, 1687).

 
If he thinks that this is permissible for him, then he has been cheated.
This is the deception of the Shaytaan. A haraam action should not be
met with another haraam action.

 
This is if we accept what he said.  But in principle the vendor
has the right to sell (his goods) for whatever price he wants. The Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon him) said: “The buyer and seller have the choice (of either
going ahead with or cancelling the transaction) so long as they have
not parted.” (Narrated in al-Bukhaari, 1973; Muslim, 1532) If he [your
husband] does not like the price of an item, all he has to do is negotiate;
he should not steal. If he likes the price, fair enough; otherwise he
should go to a different store.

 
As for his “punishing” the store by stealing 900 dollars, this is also
haraam. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And
if you punish (your enemy, O you believers in the Oneness of Allâh),
then punish them with the like of that with which you were afflicted”
[al-Nahl 16:126]

 
A person does not have the right to take whatever wants even if he has
been mistreated. If he takes more than what has been taken from him
unlawfully, then he becomes a wrongdoer too.

 
This is if the store has done wrong by your husband, but what seems
to be the case is the opposite. It is no more than the matter of misplaced
suspicion. Would your husband like it if someone were to do that to
him, and steal even half of this amount just because he suspects him?

 
The answer, obviously, would be no. So it is not permissible for him
to do that to this storekeeper.

 
We advise you to tell him that this world is fleeting, and that man
will meet Allaah on the Day of Resurrection with his deeds, and that
theft is a scandal and a humiliation in this world and the next.

 
In this world, it removes the blessing from the thief’s property, and
indeed from his life, then it brings him humiliation among people.

 
In the Hereafter it will be even worse. Let him think about this hadeeth:

 
It was narrated that Abu Humayd al-Saa’idi said: The Messenger of Allaah
(peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon him) said:

“By
Allaah, none of you takes something from another unlawfully, but he
will meet Allaah carrying it on the Day of Resurrection. I shall see
some of you meeting Allaah carrying a camel grunting, or a cow mooing,
or a sheep bleating.” Then he raised his arm so high that the whiteness
of his armpit became visible, and said, “O Allaah, have I conveyed it?”
(narrated by al-Bukhaari, 6578; Muslim, 1832)

And Allaah knows best.