Forgetting something with a merchant and not returning to it
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The second question of Fatwa No. ( 20807 )
Q2: Sometimes, due to the large number of buyers and sellers, some customers forget books they had brought in to sell, and we did not agree on the price, or they brought them for us to look at, and then they left and did not return to us for days, sometimes months, and sometimes forever. What do we do with these books; do we sell them or leave them? And if we do not know their owner, or have not seen them again, or do not know their name and address, what do we do? Also, what do we do if some of these books are of mixed quality, good and bad? Sometimes some customers forget some riyals and halalas as well. What do we do with them? And sometimes we find them inside some of the books after buying them from him. What is the ruling on this
money: is it ours or his, or do we give it in charity?
A2: If some people forget something of theirs with you, and a long time has passed, and you do not know their address, and they have not come to you, then you must give it in charity, or its value in charity, with the intention on their behalf. By doing so, your responsibility is cleared, if Allah wills. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q2: Sometimes, due to the large number of buyers and sellers, some customers forget books they had brought in to sell, and we did not agree on the price, or they brought them for us to look at, and then they left and did not return to us for days, sometimes months, and sometimes forever. What do we do with these books; do we sell them or leave them? And if we do not know their owner, or have not seen them again, or do not know their name and address, what do we do? Also, what do we do if some of these books are of mixed quality, good and bad? Sometimes some customers forget some riyals and halalas as well. What do we do with them? And sometimes we find them inside some of the books after buying them from him. What is the ruling on this
money: is it ours or his, or do we give it in charity?
A2: If some people forget something of theirs with you, and a long time has passed, and you do not know their address, and they have not come to you, then you must give it in charity, or its value in charity, with the intention on their behalf. By doing so, your responsibility is cleared, if Allah wills. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.