Giving charity with money on behalf of the person to whom it belongs
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The first and second questions of Fatwa No. ( 11351 )
Q1, 2: I am a government employee, and I am responsible for distributing employee salaries. I distribute each employee's salary and then send it to another person to deliver it to them, as I am unable to deliver it to them myself because the employees are women. There are halalas (small coins) in the employees' salaries, and I do not have the halalas on hand, so I do not deliver the full amount to the owners. Consequently, a sum of money, approximately fifty riyals, forty, or less, remains with me after the distribution.
This situation continued for about three years, as I do not know many of them, nor do I know the exact amount of halalas owed to each person per month. I ask for guidance on what I should do in this matter, given that I have already spent all the aforementioned amounts. Should I give charity of one riyal each month on behalf of each person? Also, on one occasion, I distributed a salary and 2,000 riyals remained. I asked the employees if they had received a shortage, and my reference, from whom I receive the funds, did not mention any shortage, even though I did not inform them of the amount. This was about two and a half years ago, and I have spent it. Since I am certain that I have no right to it, I am now regretful of having spent this amount. I cannot inform my reference of this out of fear that they will betray me. I swear to Allah that I am regretful of what I did. I wish to return this amount to the state in any way to find peace of mind. I am aware that I can allocate it to any state project, as I conduct agreements for such amounts and have an advance from the state to cover these agreements for certain state works. Is it permissible for me to pay this amount for any work done in my department, such as electrical repairs or purchasing anything the department needs, in order to return the amount without anyone knowing? Please advise me, as I am deeply regretful of this.
A1, 2: If the matter is as described, it is obligatory for you to give charity with the amounts you have, with the intention that it is for those who are owed. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his companions.
Q1, 2: I am a government employee, and I am responsible for distributing employee salaries. I distribute each employee's salary and then send it to another person to deliver it to them, as I am unable to deliver it to them myself because the employees are women. There are halalas (small coins) in the employees' salaries, and I do not have the halalas on hand, so I do not deliver the full amount to the owners. Consequently, a sum of money, approximately fifty riyals, forty, or less, remains with me after the distribution.
This situation continued for about three years, as I do not know many of them, nor do I know the exact amount of halalas owed to each person per month. I ask for guidance on what I should do in this matter, given that I have already spent all the aforementioned amounts. Should I give charity of one riyal each month on behalf of each person? Also, on one occasion, I distributed a salary and 2,000 riyals remained. I asked the employees if they had received a shortage, and my reference, from whom I receive the funds, did not mention any shortage, even though I did not inform them of the amount. This was about two and a half years ago, and I have spent it. Since I am certain that I have no right to it, I am now regretful of having spent this amount. I cannot inform my reference of this out of fear that they will betray me. I swear to Allah that I am regretful of what I did. I wish to return this amount to the state in any way to find peace of mind. I am aware that I can allocate it to any state project, as I conduct agreements for such amounts and have an advance from the state to cover these agreements for certain state works. Is it permissible for me to pay this amount for any work done in my department, such as electrical repairs or purchasing anything the department needs, in order to return the amount without anyone knowing? Please advise me, as I am deeply regretful of this.
A1, 2: If the matter is as described, it is obligatory for you to give charity with the amounts you have, with the intention that it is for those who are owed. 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.