Repentance and Seeking Forgiveness, and Returning Money Taken Without Right
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Fatwa No. ( 8048 )
Q: About fifteen years ago, I was traveling with a large group of people, and we wanted to exchange the currency we had with us. One of them said to me: Take this amount and exchange it for me. I do not know this person's name or address. The amount was 150 Libyan pounds, which is equivalent to 300 Egyptian pounds. The owner of this money came to me and said: We want our right. I had already spent the money on my house, and I had nothing with me, so I told him: I have nothing
for you, and I threatened him with a beating, so he fled. Now this period has become long, and I am remorseful for this act, and it often keeps me from sleeping. Now I want to be free from this sin, but I do not know the man, and he does not know me, I do not know his address, and he does not know my address. Tell us, may Allah reward you with good, what should I do with this money?
A: If the situation is as described, then you have done wrong and committed a great sin. You must repent and seek forgiveness, and search for the owner of the money with earnestness and determination. If you find him, apologize to him and pay him the mentioned amount. If you do not find him, search for his heir and pay him the amount. If you do not find an heir for him, give it in charity with the intention that its reward belongs to the owner. If you find the owner or his heirs after that, inform them of the situation. If they are satisfied, that is fine; if they are not satisfied, pay them their right, and you will have the reward of the charity. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: About fifteen years ago, I was traveling with a large group of people, and we wanted to exchange the currency we had with us. One of them said to me: Take this amount and exchange it for me. I do not know this person's name or address. The amount was 150 Libyan pounds, which is equivalent to 300 Egyptian pounds. The owner of this money came to me and said: We want our right. I had already spent the money on my house, and I had nothing with me, so I told him: I have nothing
for you, and I threatened him with a beating, so he fled. Now this period has become long, and I am remorseful for this act, and it often keeps me from sleeping. Now I want to be free from this sin, but I do not know the man, and he does not know me, I do not know his address, and he does not know my address. Tell us, may Allah reward you with good, what should I do with this money?
A: If the situation is as described, then you have done wrong and committed a great sin. You must repent and seek forgiveness, and search for the owner of the money with earnestness and determination. If you find him, apologize to him and pay him the mentioned amount. If you do not find him, search for his heir and pay him the amount. If you do not find an heir for him, give it in charity with the intention that its reward belongs to the owner. If you find the owner or his heirs after that, inform them of the situation. If they are satisfied, that is fine; if they are not satisfied, pay them their right, and you will have the reward of the charity. 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.