The difference between rich and poor in the rulings of the Shari‘a

Question

Question: Is there any difference in Islam between rich and poor, such that if someone is an important person, then whatever he does is forgiven him, the rules are for the little people, and only they will be held to account?

Answer

In the rulings that are general there is no difference between rich and poor; they are the same for everyone. For example, prayer and fasting are fard upon everyone, rich and poor; whoever abandons them will be a grave sinner. Wine, fornication, lying, backbiting (ghiba), theft and the like are haram for everyone; no one is exempt.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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