Food was gifted to us from forbidden money, money from usury, so we returned it to its owner, but he returned it to us, so we were embarrassed and took it. Should we give it to the poor, or is it permissible for us to eat it?

The questioner : Food was gifted to us from forbidden money, money from usury, so we returned it to its owner, but he returned it to us, so we were embarrassed and took it. Should we give it to the poor, or is it permissible for us to eat it?

The Shaykh : It is permissible for you to eat it, and glory be to Allah, how is this question posed—do not eat it and give it to the poor?
The important point is that if a person whose wealth contains forbidden elements gifts something to someone, there is nothing wrong with accepting the gift. This is evidenced by the fact that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) accepted a gift from the Jews, and most of the Jews consume usury and illicit earnings. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not return it and did not ask for details. Similarly, he (peace and blessings be upon him) made a pledge of allegiance with the Jews. In fact, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) passed away while his armor was pledged as collateral for food he had purchased for his family, pledged with a Jew.
Take this as a rule: anyone who acquires forbidden wealth, it is forbidden only for him. As for others, if they take it through a lawful means, it is not forbidden for them, unless we know that it is the money of a specific individual. In that case, we do not take it. For example, if a thief gifts us what he stole, and we know that he stole it, it is not permissible for us to accept it, because it is forbidden in itself. This is a rule; if a person knows it, the difficulties are removed from him and matters become easy for him.