The agent’s disposal of his principal’s funds without his knowledge.

The questioner : A man is responsible for collecting rent from buildings for a person who is not in the country. Is it permissible for him to dispose of this money and then give it to him when he arrives?

The Shaykh : No, that is not permissible.

The questioner : It is not permissible for him to dispose of it.

The Shaykh : It is not permissible. This is a trust.

The questioner : If he sought his permission.

The Shaykh : Yes, it is permissible.

The questioner : If, without seeking his permission, it is his nature to allow it?

The Shaykh : This is now a fatwa or taqwa, as they say, a fatwa and taqwa. The fatwa is that it is not permissible, because if the one who allows it claims, “I did not give you permission,” the other cannot prove against his claim, so there would be a dispute and disagreement. However, between him and his Lord, it is permissible, as long as he knows that he allows it and such things. It is said that the tongue of the situation is more eloquent than the tongue of speech, but this tongue of the situation is not the decisive ruling regarding cases of dispute.