Repentance and Getting Rid of Money Earned from Narcotics
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Fatwa No. ( 1555 )
A man came to my house and posed the following question, the text of which is: He stated that in the past he used to promote narcotics, and that he earned a great deal of money from dealing in them with those who betrayed their religion, their consciences, and their community. He acquired wealth from the value of the narcotics, the details of which are as follows: 1- He states that he owns several plots of land in different areas, the price of which was haram. 2- He also owns buildings that he constructed with haram money. 3- He bought a farm in a certain place with the price of haram money. 4- He states that he married a woman who bore him three or four children, and he mentioned that her mahr was from that haram money he accumulated from promoting
the narcotics that are forbidden by Islamic law. He mentioned that along with those forbidden assets, there is a very small percentage, perhaps one percent, that is halal. The question is: What should he do with those properties, given that he has repented to Allah, returned, and regretted what he did in the past, and has resolved to leave it and not return to it? He is now prostrate before Allah the Exalted. Specifically, he asks about the validity of his marriage contract, whether it is valid or not, since her mahr was haram from what he earned from the value of those vile substances? I ask for a detailed answer regarding the woman's mahr, the farm, the buildings, and the lands. We are grateful and appreciative to Allah, and then to your Excellency.
A: It is obligatory for this man and those like him to get rid of the money that came to him through haram earnings by spending it in the causes of righteousness; such as charity to the poor, supporting the mujahideen in the path of Allah, assisting debtors who are unable to pay off their debts, helping those in need of marriage who are unable to afford its costs, and the like. If he endows these buildings, land, and farm for mosques, mu'adhdhins, and imams, that is appropriate; because it involves getting rid of these assets acquired through forbidden means in ways that benefit the Muslims. As for the marriage, it is valid, and it is obligatory for him to get rid of the amount of the mahr he paid to the woman, and this amount should be from halal earnings, and he should spend it in the aforementioned causes of righteousness and the like, along with sincere repentance for that. He should be given good news that Allah
will compensate him for these vile assets with something better because of his taqwa of his Lord and his sincere repentance to Him. He is the One who said, Glorified is He:[At-Talaq 65:2-3] , and He is the One who said, Mighty and Majestic, also: [At-Talaq 65:4] . May Allah guide us and him to sincere repentance, and turn to us and to him in mercy, for He is the All-Hearing, the Near One. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
A man came to my house and posed the following question, the text of which is: He stated that in the past he used to promote narcotics, and that he earned a great deal of money from dealing in them with those who betrayed their religion, their consciences, and their community. He acquired wealth from the value of the narcotics, the details of which are as follows: 1- He states that he owns several plots of land in different areas, the price of which was haram. 2- He also owns buildings that he constructed with haram money. 3- He bought a farm in a certain place with the price of haram money. 4- He states that he married a woman who bore him three or four children, and he mentioned that her mahr was from that haram money he accumulated from promoting
the narcotics that are forbidden by Islamic law. He mentioned that along with those forbidden assets, there is a very small percentage, perhaps one percent, that is halal. The question is: What should he do with those properties, given that he has repented to Allah, returned, and regretted what he did in the past, and has resolved to leave it and not return to it? He is now prostrate before Allah the Exalted. Specifically, he asks about the validity of his marriage contract, whether it is valid or not, since her mahr was haram from what he earned from the value of those vile substances? I ask for a detailed answer regarding the woman's mahr, the farm, the buildings, and the lands. We are grateful and appreciative to Allah, and then to your Excellency.
A: It is obligatory for this man and those like him to get rid of the money that came to him through haram earnings by spending it in the causes of righteousness; such as charity to the poor, supporting the mujahideen in the path of Allah, assisting debtors who are unable to pay off their debts, helping those in need of marriage who are unable to afford its costs, and the like. If he endows these buildings, land, and farm for mosques, mu'adhdhins, and imams, that is appropriate; because it involves getting rid of these assets acquired through forbidden means in ways that benefit the Muslims. As for the marriage, it is valid, and it is obligatory for him to get rid of the amount of the mahr he paid to the woman, and this amount should be from halal earnings, and he should spend it in the aforementioned causes of righteousness and the like, along with sincere repentance for that. He should be given good news that Allah
will compensate him for these vile assets with something better because of his taqwa of his Lord and his sincere repentance to Him. He is the One who said, Glorified is He:
And whoever fears Allah - He will make for him a way out (3) And will provide for him from where he does not expect.
وَمَنْ يَتَّقِ اللَّهَ يَجْعَلْ لَهُ مَخْرَجًا (2) وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لاَ يَحْتَسِبُAnd whoever fears Allah - He will make for him of his matter ease.
وَمَنْ يَتَّقِ اللَّهَ يَجْعَلْ لَهُ مِنْ أَمْرِهِ يُسْرًا
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.