He works in repairing watches, and he has many watches that their owners left a long time ago and have not collected
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Fatwa number ( 7505 )
Q: We work in repairing watches, and my father passed away three years ago. I am still practicing my profession, but my eyesight has been affected by it, and the doctor has prevented me from continuing to work. Currently, I have many watches that were given to me for repair, and their owners have not come to collect them. They have been with us for periods ranging from twenty years, to ten years, five years, two years, one year, and less than a year. Some of them have had the repair fee paid, but the owners have not come to collect them, and they remain with us. Therefore, I am asking your eminence what is the solution? Should I dispose of them by selling them and giving their value in charity on behalf of their owners, or what?
A: If you are unable to identify the owners of the watches or their heirs, it is permissible for you to sell them and give their price in charity on behalf of their owners. You may take from their value the fee for repairing those that you repaired. If any of the owners comes, you inform him of what happened. If he is satisfied, that is fine; otherwise, you pay him the value of his watch.
Q: We work in repairing watches, and my father passed away three years ago. I am still practicing my profession, but my eyesight has been affected by it, and the doctor has prevented me from continuing to work. Currently, I have many watches that were given to me for repair, and their owners have not come to collect them. They have been with us for periods ranging from twenty years, to ten years, five years, two years, one year, and less than a year. Some of them have had the repair fee paid, but the owners have not come to collect them, and they remain with us. Therefore, I am asking your eminence what is the solution? Should I dispose of them by selling them and giving their value in charity on behalf of their owners, or what?
A: If you are unable to identify the owners of the watches or their heirs, it is permissible for you to sell them and give their price in charity on behalf of their owners. You may take from their value the fee for repairing those that you repaired. If any of the owners comes, you inform him of what happened. If he is satisfied, that is fine; otherwise, you pay him the value of his watch.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.