What is the ruling on a worker taking items belonging to an employer who did not give him his right and left him and went away?
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The questioner : Another man worked for someone, then left him, took his money, and went away. Some items that he used to work with remained with him. Is it his right to take these? They are part of some of his money that he left behind. Is he allowed to take them?
The Shaykh : I mean, you are saying a man worked for another.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Then he turned away from him.
The questioner : Yes, and he took his money.
The Shaykh : Do you mean taking his money, i.e., stealing?
The questioner : He took the worker's money, took the worker's money, ate it, and left. Nothing is known about him. Yes, and items and things for work remained with him. Is he allowed to take them, even though they do not cover the entire amount, meaning they are not the full value required?
The Shaykh : My brother, a worker and an employer.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Okay, the worker left the job.
The questioner : No, the employer left the worker and took his money; he did not give him his right.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : Yes, exactly.
The Shaykh : Okay, so what remained with the worker.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Some of the tools.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : The employer's.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Here comes his saying (peace be upon him):Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1264Da'if (Darussalam), so if the employer, as stated in the question.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : has betrayed the worker, then in return, it is not permissible for the worker.
The student : to commit betrayal.
The Shaykh : to betray the employer.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh: Is it clear?
The questioner : May Allah reward you.
The Shaykh: All right.
Other than that?
The Shaykh : I mean, you are saying a man worked for another.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Then he turned away from him.
The questioner : Yes, and he took his money.
The Shaykh : Do you mean taking his money, i.e., stealing?
The questioner : He took the worker's money, took the worker's money, ate it, and left. Nothing is known about him. Yes, and items and things for work remained with him. Is he allowed to take them, even though they do not cover the entire amount, meaning they are not the full value required?
The Shaykh : My brother, a worker and an employer.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Okay, the worker left the job.
The questioner : No, the employer left the worker and took his money; he did not give him his right.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : Yes, exactly.
The Shaykh : Okay, so what remained with the worker.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Some of the tools.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : The employer's.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Here comes his saying (peace be upon him):
Fulfill the trust for the one who entrusted you, and do not cheat the one who cheated you.
أدِّ الأمانة إلى مَن ائتمنك ، ولا تَخُنْ مَن خانكThe questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : has betrayed the worker, then in return, it is not permissible for the worker.
The student : to commit betrayal.
The Shaykh : to betray the employer.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh: Is it clear?
The questioner : May Allah reward you.
The Shaykh: All right.
Other than that?
Source
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The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.