He gave him his wages in a garment, so he left it with him as a trust, and he sold it for him and increased it for him, but he did not find the owner of the garment, so what does he do?
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Fatwa number ( 63 )
Q: He hired a worker to graze his camels, and he stayed with him for a month. When he decided to leave, he gave him a garment in exchange for his wages for that month. After receiving the garment, he kept it with him as a trust until he returned. The owner of the garment did not return, so he sold the garment and increased it until it became a sum of money. He did not find the owner of the garment, and he searched for him, but no one informed him of his whereabouts. What is the way out of this amount to clear his conscience?
A: You should give this amount in charity as long as the matter is as you described, namely that the worker has not returned, and you searched for him but did not know his location, and no one informed you of him. If he comes after that, even after a long time, it is obligatory for you to pay him the amount, unless he is satisfied with the charity you gave on his behalf.
Q: He hired a worker to graze his camels, and he stayed with him for a month. When he decided to leave, he gave him a garment in exchange for his wages for that month. After receiving the garment, he kept it with him as a trust until he returned. The owner of the garment did not return, so he sold the garment and increased it until it became a sum of money. He did not find the owner of the garment, and he searched for him, but no one informed him of his whereabouts. What is the way out of this amount to clear his conscience?
A: You should give this amount in charity as long as the matter is as you described, namely that the worker has not returned, and you searched for him but did not know his location, and no one informed you of him. If he comes after that, even after a long time, it is obligatory for you to pay him the amount, unless he is satisfied with the charity you gave on his behalf.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.