He says: I worked as a teacher in two schools in Sudan, and each time I was entrusted with the school's financial affairs. This was by delegation from the school committee, which was composed
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The questioner : He says: I worked as a teacher in two schools in Sudan, and each time I was entrusted with the school's financial affairs. This was by delegation from the school committee, which was composed of parents and teachers. Despite my care for trust and my diligence, I felt that I caused the destruction of part of these funds unintentionally, so it became a liability on me. However, I do not know its exact value. Also, the school committees have changed several times, and the students of that period have moved on to other stages. Is it permissible to estimate that amount and return it to the school in the form of a library, for example, to avoid embarrassment and ensure its return to its owners indirectly? Or what do you see? Guide us, may Allah reward you?
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and I send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions. The question of the brother who mentioned that he was a financial trustee for a school and that he acted unintentionally, and now he is asking about the way to be released from it. The truth is that this question is vague, and we do not know how this action was performed. So we say: This action does not escape two cases. One is that his action was for his own benefit. In that case, he has made a great mistake, and he must repent to Allah the Exalted and return what he destroyed to the school for its benefit, according to what the donors previously donated. For example, if they donated for the students' sustenance, it should be spent on the students' sustenance. If they donated for the general benefit of the school, it should be spent on the general benefit of the school, and so on. And along with that, he must repent to Allah the Exalted.
As for the second case, if this action was for the benefit of the school, but he exerted effort (ijtihad) and then it became clear to him that he erred in his effort, then in this case, there is no guarantee (liability) on him, because he is neither transgressing nor negligent. Rather, he exerted effort and thought the benefit was in this action, and then it became clear to him later that the benefit was in not doing it. So there is no sin on him and no guarantee (liability) on him, because if a trustee does not transgress and does not neglect, there is no sin on him and no guarantee (liability) on him. So we hope that the asking brother will investigate the matter: is this action he mentioned specific to himself or general for the benefit of the school?
The questioner : Yes, if we assume that, as you have mentioned, it is specific to the first case, meaning it concerns specific individuals such as students and others, and as he mentions that they have dispersed from this country, and perhaps some are far from it, is it permissible for him to spend this money on a project that benefits the school?
The Shaykh : No, he ... spends it on what benefits the students, as long as it was originally spent for the benefit of the students, such as their salaries and sustenance, so let it be spent on the benefit of the current students ...
The questioner : who are present.
The Shaykh : who are present.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Because the intended meaning is the category of students, not their specific identities. Even those who donated in the past do not intend to give to so-and-so and so-and-so, but rather they intend the benefit of the students in this school. So the intended meaning is the category.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and I send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions. The question of the brother who mentioned that he was a financial trustee for a school and that he acted unintentionally, and now he is asking about the way to be released from it. The truth is that this question is vague, and we do not know how this action was performed. So we say: This action does not escape two cases. One is that his action was for his own benefit. In that case, he has made a great mistake, and he must repent to Allah the Exalted and return what he destroyed to the school for its benefit, according to what the donors previously donated. For example, if they donated for the students' sustenance, it should be spent on the students' sustenance. If they donated for the general benefit of the school, it should be spent on the general benefit of the school, and so on. And along with that, he must repent to Allah the Exalted.
As for the second case, if this action was for the benefit of the school, but he exerted effort (ijtihad) and then it became clear to him that he erred in his effort, then in this case, there is no guarantee (liability) on him, because he is neither transgressing nor negligent. Rather, he exerted effort and thought the benefit was in this action, and then it became clear to him later that the benefit was in not doing it. So there is no sin on him and no guarantee (liability) on him, because if a trustee does not transgress and does not neglect, there is no sin on him and no guarantee (liability) on him. So we hope that the asking brother will investigate the matter: is this action he mentioned specific to himself or general for the benefit of the school?
The questioner : Yes, if we assume that, as you have mentioned, it is specific to the first case, meaning it concerns specific individuals such as students and others, and as he mentions that they have dispersed from this country, and perhaps some are far from it, is it permissible for him to spend this money on a project that benefits the school?
The Shaykh : No, he ... spends it on what benefits the students, as long as it was originally spent for the benefit of the students, such as their salaries and sustenance, so let it be spent on the benefit of the current students ...
The questioner : who are present.
The Shaykh : who are present.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Because the intended meaning is the category of students, not their specific identities. Even those who donated in the past do not intend to give to so-and-so and so-and-so, but rather they intend the benefit of the students in this school. So the intended meaning is the category.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.