Ruling on Repaying a Debt Owed to the State

The first message in this episode is from one of our brother listeners. He says: The one who repents to Allah (M. M. T.) from al-Qassim. Our brother began his message with expressions of the feelings of our honorable listeners toward this program. He started by saying: Our sincere prayers for you and for His Eminence Shaykh Abdul Aziz ibn Abdullah ibn Baz, with abundant health and well-being, for the great services you provide. Please be kind enough to answer our inquiries, we who are weak servants of Allah, the Exalted and Glorious. May Allah make you a beacon with your knowledge, benefiting the Muslims and all people, and we thank you.
His Eminence the Shaykh! I have a question, and I hope you will be kind enough to answer it: I used to work as an engineer in our country and manage a project. When I wanted to get married, I needed a sum of money that was not small at the time, estimated at one thousand five hundred pounds. So I borrowed from one of the contractors who worked with me to complete my marriage. Afterwards, I was unable to repay his debt. The point is, I tried to compensate him from the company’s funds by adding some work that had not been done, equivalent to the amount, and I spent his money from the government. Now I am working here in Saudi Arabia, and when I heard your program, I found myself drawn to it, hoping to find a solution there. Is the marriage contract valid in this case, since the money was not lawful?
Second: What should I do now, since I am unable to return this amount? Because it is not owed to a person, but to the government. I am now, praise be to Allah, a repentant person, and I pray, fast, and perform the other acts of worship, but this sin often troubles and worries me. I ask for guidance. May Allah reward you with good.
The answer: In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, and may Allah send prayers and peace upon the Messenger of Allah, and upon his family and his Companions, and upon whoever follows his guidance. As for what follows:
So I ask Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, to grant us and you sincere repentance, and to rectify the hearts and deeds of us, you, and all Muslims.
The obligatory duty upon you in this situation is to return this money to the state, because it is from the state’s money, along with repentance to Allah, the Mighty and Majestic. If you are able to return it to the state, you must return it to the state, because it was taken from the public treasury. If you are unable to do so, this money should be spent on acts of charity, such as building mosques, repairing restrooms, giving charity to the poor, and the like, along with sincere repentance. And Allah accepts the repentance of those who repent. As for the marriage, it is valid, praise be to Allah.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.