The Ruling on Repentance from Forbidden Wealth

The Shaykh:
May Allah greet you and bless you.

The questioner:
We begin with a letter from a brother questioner, Alif Alif Ba, who says: Islam encourages earning lawful income and explains the benefits of this for the person whose wealth has become mixed with forbidden wealth and earnings. He wants to repent to Allah, Mighty and Majestic. How does he do this? And does repentance suffice in this matter and benefit him?

The Shaykh:
And may Allah send blessings and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions. Yes, repentance is beneficial and is accepted, by the permission of Allah, from every sin, whether it be from unlawful wealth or otherwise. Indeed, it is accepted even from shirk (associating partners with Allah) and kufr (disbelief) in Allah the Exalted and Mighty. How could repentance not be accepted from unlawful wealth? As for unlawful wealth, if its amount is known, one must dispose of it by placing it in a general project that benefits Muslims, with the intention of getting rid of it, not with the intention of giving it as charity. However, if one does not know its amount, he must estimate it, exert effort in estimating it, be cautious, and dispose of it as we have mentioned. Yes.