I found a sum of money with a relative of mine, and when I asked him about its source, he informed me that it came to him through forbidden means. What should he do with it?
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Fatwa number ( 21072 )
Q: I found a sum of money amounting to seven thousand and two hundred riyals (7200) with a relative of mine, and when I asked him about the source of this amount, he informed me that it came to him through forbidden means, and the amount is now in my possession.
The question: How should I deal with this amount : Should I send it to charitable associations, or pay it to one of the needy, or contribute it to the construction of a mosque? Knowing that the brother of this person, upon learning of the existence of this amount with me, asked me to give it to him to meet his need, which is paying the wages of the maid, knowing that he is an employee and his salary exceeds three thousand riyals. Should I pay the amount to him? Please inform us, may Allah reward you with good, about the appropriate way to dispose of this amount, knowing that the person with whom I found this amount has returned to Allah and repented for what he did, especially since this amount does not belong to known individuals to be returned to them, but rather - according to the person's own statement - it came to him through forbidden sale.
A: If the amount you found with your relative was obtained from wicked earnings, or from selling forbidden things, then he must dispose of it by spending it on general charitable projects, other than building mosques, and he must make sincere repentance from this bad deed. This is if this amount is not the right of anyone, or if it is the price of stolen or usurped items or the like. In that case, it is obligatory for him, along with sincere repentance, to return it to its owner if he finds him, or to his heirs if he has passed away. If its owners are not known, then he gives it in charity with the intention of it being on behalf of its owners. If its owner comes to claim it, then he hands it over to him, and the reward of the charity is for him, if Allah wills.
And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: I found a sum of money amounting to seven thousand and two hundred riyals (7200) with a relative of mine, and when I asked him about the source of this amount, he informed me that it came to him through forbidden means, and the amount is now in my possession.
The question: How should I deal with this amount : Should I send it to charitable associations, or pay it to one of the needy, or contribute it to the construction of a mosque? Knowing that the brother of this person, upon learning of the existence of this amount with me, asked me to give it to him to meet his need, which is paying the wages of the maid, knowing that he is an employee and his salary exceeds three thousand riyals. Should I pay the amount to him? Please inform us, may Allah reward you with good, about the appropriate way to dispose of this amount, knowing that the person with whom I found this amount has returned to Allah and repented for what he did, especially since this amount does not belong to known individuals to be returned to them, but rather - according to the person's own statement - it came to him through forbidden sale.
A: If the amount you found with your relative was obtained from wicked earnings, or from selling forbidden things, then he must dispose of it by spending it on general charitable projects, other than building mosques, and he must make sincere repentance from this bad deed. This is if this amount is not the right of anyone, or if it is the price of stolen or usurped items or the like. In that case, it is obligatory for him, along with sincere repentance, to return it to its owner if he finds him, or to his heirs if he has passed away. If its owners are not known, then he gives it in charity with the intention of it being on behalf of its owners. If its owner comes to claim it, then he hands it over to him, and the reward of the charity is for him, 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.