Marriage from Unlawful Earnings
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Question: What is the ruling on a man who earned money through an unlawful means and paid the mahr (bridal gift) of his wife, with whom he is currently living, from that money? He has three children from her. What is the ruling on the marriage contract between them in this case, and on the children? It is known that he has repented to Allah from this action. He intended to return the money to the owner from whom he took it, but he could not find him. How should he dispose of it? Is it permissible for him to give it in charity to his sister’s husband, who is in need of charity, or not?
Answer: First: As for the marriage, his marriage is valid, provided that its conditions are met. It is valid in itself, and there is no defect in it.
As for the money that you wronged and took without right, you must return it to
its owner and seek his forgiveness; because you wronged him and erred in his right.Two things are necessary: Return the money and seek his forgiveness, no matter what it costs you, if you find him. If you do not find him because he is dead, then you pay it to his heirs.
If both things become impossible: If you do not find him, and you do not find an heir for him, and you know nothing about him at all, despite making an effort to seek him and conducting a thorough search for him, then at that time you give this money in charity with the intention that it belongs to its owner, and that the reward belongs to its owner, and you are thereby rid of it. And Allah the Exalted knows best.
Question: In the case of charity, is it permissible for him to give it to his sister’s husband?
Answer: Yes, he gives it to the needy person, whoever he is, whether it is his sister’s husband or someone else.
Question: But if informing the one from whom it was stolen, or the one from whom it was taken, might cause a problem, is he also required to inform him?
Answer: If informing him would cause a greater harm, then he does not inform him, but he works to deliver the money to him by any means.
Answer: First: As for the marriage, his marriage is valid, provided that its conditions are met. It is valid in itself, and there is no defect in it.
As for the money that you wronged and took without right, you must return it to
its owner and seek his forgiveness; because you wronged him and erred in his right.Two things are necessary: Return the money and seek his forgiveness, no matter what it costs you, if you find him. If you do not find him because he is dead, then you pay it to his heirs.
If both things become impossible: If you do not find him, and you do not find an heir for him, and you know nothing about him at all, despite making an effort to seek him and conducting a thorough search for him, then at that time you give this money in charity with the intention that it belongs to its owner, and that the reward belongs to its owner, and you are thereby rid of it. And Allah the Exalted knows best.
Question: In the case of charity, is it permissible for him to give it to his sister’s husband?
Answer: Yes, he gives it to the needy person, whoever he is, whether it is his sister’s husband or someone else.
Question: But if informing the one from whom it was stolen, or the one from whom it was taken, might cause a problem, is he also required to inform him?
Answer: If informing him would cause a greater harm, then he does not inform him, but he works to deliver the money to him by any means.