What is the ruling if a person kills locusts by walking over them while they are spread on their path, and avoiding them was not possible?
Chapter on Ransom (Fidyah) and Penalty for Hunting
Al-Mughni
Book of Hajj
Primary text
There are two perspectives on this matter. The first asserts that compensation is obligatory because the individual destroyed the locusts for their own benefit, making them liable, similar to someone desperate who kills prohibited game for food. The second perspective states that no compensation is due because the individual was forced into the destruction, analogous to a situation where an animal attacks first.