I found money when I was young and ignorant of the rulings, so I took it and disposed of it. Now I want to clear my conscience of it, so what should I do?
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Returning the lost item to its owner
Question: I found money when I was young and ignorant of the rulings, so I took it and disposed of it. Now I want to clear my conscience of it, so what should I do?
Answer: If you know the owner, it is obligatory for you to return it to him and to seek his forgiveness for the wrong you did. If the owner is dead, it is obligatory for you to return it to his heir.
As for if you do not know the owner and do not recognize him, then it is incumbent upon you at that time to give it in charity with the intention that the reward belongs to the owner. In addition to this, you must repent to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) from such an act, because the wealth of people is not permissible to encroach upon or take without their consent. This is injustice and aggression. So you must repent to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), and return the money to its owner or to his heir. If you are unable to do so, you must give it in charity and clear your conscience of it. And Allah knows best.
[Waqf]
Question: We have a man who endowed a piece of land for a congregational mosque. When the waqf document was written, he cursed anyone who sells any part of this waqf and prohibited its division among the heirs. One of his sons was in charge of this waqf alone, without the rest of his brothers and sisters, both male and female. One of his brothers contested this waqf with him until he obtained one-third of it. Since the others did not contest it, they did not get anything. Thus, the waqf came to be in the hands of only these two, who benefit from it, despite the need of the mosque for which it was endowed to repair and renovate its building, as it has become dilapidated. What is the ruling on these two brothers benefiting from it to the exclusion of their other brothers or sisters, and given the mosque's need for it?
Answer: If it is a waqf for the mosque, such that its revenue and produce are to be spent for the benefit of the mosque, then it is not permissible for anyone to utilize it for himself, nor is it permissible for anyone to take anything from its produce. The testator or the one who made the waqf designated it for the mosque, so it must be spent on what it was endowed for.
What you mentioned about these people's actions and their exploitation of the waqf for their own benefit, while depriving the mosque, is not permissible. This is a wrong that you must report to the judge, or to the court in your area, so that they can negotiate with these people, or with the mosque's custodian, if the mosque has a custodian or an imam. He also has the right to claim this for the mosque.
The result: It is not permissible to dispose of the produce of this waqf for the benefit of the endower's relatives, as he explicitly stated that it is for the mosque. Therefore, the court must be consulted regarding this
matter to determine the correct ruling and the correct course of action, if there is proof, a document, or witness testimony that can be relied upon.
Question: I found money when I was young and ignorant of the rulings, so I took it and disposed of it. Now I want to clear my conscience of it, so what should I do?
Answer: If you know the owner, it is obligatory for you to return it to him and to seek his forgiveness for the wrong you did. If the owner is dead, it is obligatory for you to return it to his heir.
As for if you do not know the owner and do not recognize him, then it is incumbent upon you at that time to give it in charity with the intention that the reward belongs to the owner. In addition to this, you must repent to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) from such an act, because the wealth of people is not permissible to encroach upon or take without their consent. This is injustice and aggression. So you must repent to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), and return the money to its owner or to his heir. If you are unable to do so, you must give it in charity and clear your conscience of it. And Allah knows best.
[Waqf]
Question: We have a man who endowed a piece of land for a congregational mosque. When the waqf document was written, he cursed anyone who sells any part of this waqf and prohibited its division among the heirs. One of his sons was in charge of this waqf alone, without the rest of his brothers and sisters, both male and female. One of his brothers contested this waqf with him until he obtained one-third of it. Since the others did not contest it, they did not get anything. Thus, the waqf came to be in the hands of only these two, who benefit from it, despite the need of the mosque for which it was endowed to repair and renovate its building, as it has become dilapidated. What is the ruling on these two brothers benefiting from it to the exclusion of their other brothers or sisters, and given the mosque's need for it?
Answer: If it is a waqf for the mosque, such that its revenue and produce are to be spent for the benefit of the mosque, then it is not permissible for anyone to utilize it for himself, nor is it permissible for anyone to take anything from its produce. The testator or the one who made the waqf designated it for the mosque, so it must be spent on what it was endowed for.
What you mentioned about these people's actions and their exploitation of the waqf for their own benefit, while depriving the mosque, is not permissible. This is a wrong that you must report to the judge, or to the court in your area, so that they can negotiate with these people, or with the mosque's custodian, if the mosque has a custodian or an imam. He also has the right to claim this for the mosque.
The result: It is not permissible to dispose of the produce of this waqf for the benefit of the endower's relatives, as he explicitly stated that it is for the mosque. Therefore, the court must be consulted regarding this
matter to determine the correct ruling and the correct course of action, if there is proof, a document, or witness testimony that can be relied upon.