The Repentance of the Thief and How He Returns the Stolen Goods to Their Owners

Question:
May Allah reward you with good and do you well. From Jordan, a message signed by the listener Sa'il says: My brother is twenty-one years old and has been afflicted with a very bad habit, which is theft. He used to steal anything, money or perhaps clothes, even though he had no need for them. But praise be to Allah, he has repented. He wants to return the money and clothes he stole a long time ago, not less than four or five years, as he told me. But he cannot face their owners. He asks: Should I give charity with their value or not? Please tell us, may Allah reward you with good.

Answer:
Theft is a major crime and a vile character trait. Allah has prescribed for it a deterrent punishment to protect the wealth of Muslims, to deter this criminal, to punish him, and to deter others like him. Allah the Exalted said: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: There is no doubt that theft is a vile character trait, a crime, and one of the major sins. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: As for this person who used to steal and then repented to Allah, praise be to Allah; repentance wipes out what came before it, and we hope for his acceptance. As for the money he took, his conscience is not cleared except by returning it to its owners. If he knows them, he must return it to them, because the right of a human being is not dropped except by returning it to him or by his forgiveness. The wrong done to the servants of Allah is not dropped except by their forgiveness or by returning it to them. It is obligatory for him to return this money he stole, or to return its value. If he fears that returning it directly will lead to confrontation, he should return it indirectly, such as by sending it with someone, or by placing it in a place near them or specific to them, and writing on it, "This is for you," without mentioning his name. He might say, for example, "This is for you; I took it from your money and am returning it to you." The important thing is that he sends it to them indirectly, or he sends it by mail without mentioning his name. The important thing is that he sends it to them in an indirect way. If he does not know the owners and cannot deliver it to them, he should give it in charity, intending that the reward belongs to the owners, or give its value in charity if it is spoiled. He gives its value on the day it was taken, on the day it was taken.