"So secure the wealth, jewels, and fabrics in the houses, shops, and inhabited areas behind strong, tight doors and locks."
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The Shaykh : The author said "So secure the wealth, jewels, and fabrics in the houses, shops, and inhabited areas behind strong, tight doors and locks". What is meant by securing wealth and jewels? If he mentions jewels, what is wealth? Wealth and currency, as well as jewels such as pearls and others. And what is meant by fabrics? Clothes. "In the houses, shops, and inhabited areas behind strong, tight doors and locks". These three things—wealth, jewels, and fabrics—must be in the houses and inhabited areas. It is not possible for a person to place these things in the open, even if they are in boxes. If a man took his money out to the open and put it in a box, would that be considered securing it?
The questioner : No.
The Shaykh : No, why? Because anyone around could take the box and what is in it. If he could not do it alone, he would go to his accomplices in theft, seek their help, and they would carry it together. These things must be in the houses and inhabited areas. Also, the author (may Allah have mercy on him) says "behind strong, tight doors and locks". It is not sufficient for them to be in the houses, shops, and inhabited areas unless there are strong, tight doors and locks. I think these three things differ, even if they are in shops and behind closed doors. For example, the securing of gold or currency is not like the securing of fabrics, is it? If a man broke into a shop, smashed the door, and stole some fabric, his hand would be cut off. But if he stole dirhams that were not in boxes, would his hand be cut off or not? Do you understand the question? This man broke into this shop, smashed it, entered, and found clothes and dirhams on the counter. He took the clothes and left with them, and he took the dirhams and left with them. His hand is cut off for the clothes, but not for the dirhams. So if he stole only the dirhams, his hand would not be cut off. Why? Even though they were all in the same place? Because it is customary that dirhams are not left like that on the counter in a shop. That is why you find that if a man forgets to put them away and remembers at home, he goes back, or does he not? Yes, it is customary that he goes back. "By Allah, I forgot to put the dirhams away." Now, can we distinguish between a small amount of dirhams and a large amount? I mean, people are lenient if the dirhams are one hundred or two hundred; they might leave them on the counter or in an unlocked drawer. But they do not leave large sums of money. So we return to the rule, my brothers: the securing of wealth is where it is customary to keep it. Also, if the ruler is very strong, the shops might be considered a secure place for wealth and dirhams, even if they are not in the boxes themselves, because of the strength of the ruler, no one would dare to break the doors, would they? Yes, there is no doubt about that. Now, if a man hung his garment in his house and there were dirhams in it, and a thief entered the house and took the dirhams from that garment, would his hand be cut off or not? His hand would be cut off, because it is customary now, and praise be to Allah, in our lands, that this is considered a secure place, and people do not take ... from their pockets and put them in boxes.
The questioner : Even if there are many?
The Shaykh : Yes, because even a large amount is put in there just so it does not become too heavy for him to carry.
The questioner : No.
The Shaykh : No, why? Because anyone around could take the box and what is in it. If he could not do it alone, he would go to his accomplices in theft, seek their help, and they would carry it together. These things must be in the houses and inhabited areas. Also, the author (may Allah have mercy on him) says "behind strong, tight doors and locks". It is not sufficient for them to be in the houses, shops, and inhabited areas unless there are strong, tight doors and locks. I think these three things differ, even if they are in shops and behind closed doors. For example, the securing of gold or currency is not like the securing of fabrics, is it? If a man broke into a shop, smashed the door, and stole some fabric, his hand would be cut off. But if he stole dirhams that were not in boxes, would his hand be cut off or not? Do you understand the question? This man broke into this shop, smashed it, entered, and found clothes and dirhams on the counter. He took the clothes and left with them, and he took the dirhams and left with them. His hand is cut off for the clothes, but not for the dirhams. So if he stole only the dirhams, his hand would not be cut off. Why? Even though they were all in the same place? Because it is customary that dirhams are not left like that on the counter in a shop. That is why you find that if a man forgets to put them away and remembers at home, he goes back, or does he not? Yes, it is customary that he goes back. "By Allah, I forgot to put the dirhams away." Now, can we distinguish between a small amount of dirhams and a large amount? I mean, people are lenient if the dirhams are one hundred or two hundred; they might leave them on the counter or in an unlocked drawer. But they do not leave large sums of money. So we return to the rule, my brothers: the securing of wealth is where it is customary to keep it. Also, if the ruler is very strong, the shops might be considered a secure place for wealth and dirhams, even if they are not in the boxes themselves, because of the strength of the ruler, no one would dare to break the doors, would they? Yes, there is no doubt about that. Now, if a man hung his garment in his house and there were dirhams in it, and a thief entered the house and took the dirhams from that garment, would his hand be cut off or not? His hand would be cut off, because it is customary now, and praise be to Allah, in our lands, that this is considered a secure place, and people do not take ... from their pockets and put them in boxes.
The questioner : Even if there are many?
The Shaykh : Yes, because even a large amount is put in there just so it does not become too heavy for him to carry.