The obligation of the thief after repentance
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Question:
The questioner says: A man used to steal people's money during his lifetime, but now he has repented to Allah , and he does not know the owners of the money he stole from them. If he were to find out who they are, it might cause him some embarrassment. So what should he do now, O Shaykh? Will his repentance be accepted? And what should he do with the money he may have stolen from these people?
Answer:
He must repent to Allah, feel remorse, and abandon that act. He must be cautious against stealing in the future, seek forgiveness for it, and do much good work. He must have a sincere resolve not to return to this sin. He regrets the past, abandons the act, and makes a sincere resolve not to return to it. He should seek Allah's forgiveness frequently and do much good work, as Allah the Exalted said: [20:82] He the Exalted said: [24:31] He must return the money to its owners if he knows them. He must return it to them in whatever way is possible, even if they do not know that it is from him. He can send it to them through someone he trusts to deliver it, via the post or otherwise. It is not permissible for him to fail to return it; rather, it is obligatory for him to return it if he knows them, by any means that ensures they do not know it is from him. He can give it to a person and say, "Deliver this to them. Tell them: A man gave me this, saying it is a right of yours that he held, and he gave it to me to deliver to you." And praise be to Allah.
As for if he does not know them, he should give it in charity. He gives it to the poor with the intention that it is on behalf of the owners. He gives in charity the money he stole with the intention that it is on behalf of the owners, all of it, leaving nothing out. If he knows them, even if they are far away, even if they are distant, he delivers it to them in a way that reaches them without the need for them to know it is from him, through a trustworthy person among the people who will deliver it, without revealing that it is from him. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you, O Shaykh.
The questioner says: A man used to steal people's money during his lifetime, but now he has repented to Allah , and he does not know the owners of the money he stole from them. If he were to find out who they are, it might cause him some embarrassment. So what should he do now, O Shaykh? Will his repentance be accepted? And what should he do with the money he may have stolen from these people?
Answer:
He must repent to Allah, feel remorse, and abandon that act. He must be cautious against stealing in the future, seek forgiveness for it, and do much good work. He must have a sincere resolve not to return to this sin. He regrets the past, abandons the act, and makes a sincere resolve not to return to it. He should seek Allah's forgiveness frequently and do much good work, as Allah the Exalted said:
But indeed, I am the Perpetual Forgiver of whoever repents and believes and does righteousness and then continues in guidance.
وَإِنِّي لَغَفَّارٌ لِمَنْ تَابَ وَآمَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحًا ثُمَّ اهْتَدَىAnd turn to Allah in repentance, all of you, O believers, that you might succeed.
وَتُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا أَيُّهَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَAs for if he does not know them, he should give it in charity. He gives it to the poor with the intention that it is on behalf of the owners. He gives in charity the money he stole with the intention that it is on behalf of the owners, all of it, leaving nothing out. If he knows them, even if they are far away, even if they are distant, he delivers it to them in a way that reaches them without the need for them to know it is from him, through a trustworthy person among the people who will deliver it, without revealing that it is from him. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you, O Shaykh.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.