Denial of the Stolen Item
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The first, third, and fourth questions from Fatwa No. ( 14054 )
Q1: One day I went to a farm, and I found the farm empty of its people. I found the (mash) used to gather the fodder, so I took it. When I reached home, my mother asked me, and I said: I found it on the road, lying there. So I swore to her; the poor woman believed me. I am suffering today because I heard that it is forbidden. On the day I took the mash, I was young and had not reached the age of puberty. Q3: I was about 25 years old, so one day I went to the market and found 20 riyals. The owner of the money met me and asked me: Did you find twenty riyals that fell on you? I said to him: No, such that I considered the lost item lawful, and I cannot read or write. The owner of the money has passed away today, leaving behind three married daughters, and they have children, and each one is in a village at least 500 km away from her sister. He has a married son, and he has a wife who died with him, other than the mother of his children. Should I give
the daughters, each one the amount, or with what should I give charity? I ask for the answer. As for the wife, she died after him. Q4: Also, one day I found ten riyals in the middle of the market, and the owner came asking, and I did not tell him anything. I was in dire need, and I considered it lawful. Today, the owner is alive and well. The ten riyals at that time were enough for a sacrificial animal. How much should I return to the owner today? And what should I do, since I am overcome with shame and I fear the punishment of Allah... I ask for your answer, may Allah reward you with good.
A1, 3, 4: The mash that you took and the money that you found and did not give to its owners must be returned: the mash or its value, and likewise the money, to its owners if they are found, or otherwise it must be returned to their legal heirs.
Q1: One day I went to a farm, and I found the farm empty of its people. I found the (mash) used to gather the fodder, so I took it. When I reached home, my mother asked me, and I said: I found it on the road, lying there. So I swore to her; the poor woman believed me. I am suffering today because I heard that it is forbidden. On the day I took the mash, I was young and had not reached the age of puberty. Q3: I was about 25 years old, so one day I went to the market and found 20 riyals. The owner of the money met me and asked me: Did you find twenty riyals that fell on you? I said to him: No, such that I considered the lost item lawful, and I cannot read or write. The owner of the money has passed away today, leaving behind three married daughters, and they have children, and each one is in a village at least 500 km away from her sister. He has a married son, and he has a wife who died with him, other than the mother of his children. Should I give
the daughters, each one the amount, or with what should I give charity? I ask for the answer. As for the wife, she died after him. Q4: Also, one day I found ten riyals in the middle of the market, and the owner came asking, and I did not tell him anything. I was in dire need, and I considered it lawful. Today, the owner is alive and well. The ten riyals at that time were enough for a sacrificial animal. How much should I return to the owner today? And what should I do, since I am overcome with shame and I fear the punishment of Allah... I ask for your answer, may Allah reward you with good.
A1, 3, 4: The mash that you took and the money that you found and did not give to its owners must be returned: the mash or its value, and likewise the money, to its owners if they are found, or otherwise it must be returned to their legal heirs.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.