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Fatwa CenterHis sister and her husband took his money illegally
Question
Assalamualliakum Brother/Sister
I am a refugee and my elder sister proposed me to be resettled in Australia. As soon as I arrived with my little children in Australia, she and her husband told me to pay them Aud$7500.00 including interest; because, they borrowed the money from the bank to fund my program. However, as soon as I finished repaying them, I realised that the money was not paid by them but was paid by the Australian Government for me and my children. Also, i entrusted them with my bank card to control my finance as i was new to the system.
I demanded half of the money from them but they boycotted me. Afterwards, they demanded an apology from me because, they brought me in Australia and she is the elder one.
I told them over my dead body. I will never apologize them because, I did not do any wrong to them; and it is God Who brought me in Australia. I asked them if God would have decreed that the rebels killed me and my kids during the war, would you have proposed me to come to Australia?
This prompted me to request a print out of my bank statement. To my surprise, there was nothing left in my account; she was also taking money from my account without my knowledge.
I was shocked!! I told my sister that you have cheated me . Since then she is not talking to me.
My question is:
1.DO I HAVE THE RIGHT TO DEMAND THIS MONEY FROM MY SISTER AND HER HUSBAND?
2.IS THERE ANY RULING IN ISLAM THAT WHEN AN ELDER SISTER /BROTHER DO WRONG TO HIS/HER YOUNGER SISTER/BROTHER , THE YOUNGER SISTER/BROTHER SHOULD APOLOZISE THE ELDERSISTER/BROTHER EVEN THOUGH THE ELDER SISTER/BROTHER HAVE DONE WRONG TO THE YOUGER ONE?
Massallam
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
If it was the government that paid this money, then it is not permissible for your sister and her husband to ask you for it [this money]. The fact that they took the money from you is consuming people’s money without right. Allaah Says (what means): {O you who have believed, do not consume one another’s wealth unjustly but only [in lawful] business by mutual consent.}[Quran 4:29] Also, the fact that they were the reason for bringing you to that country is not a sound reason for them to take this money. They are only permitted to take the equivalent of the hardship and efforts which they made.
As regards the money that your sister took from your account, if she did so without any right, then this is also consuming people’s money without right. Therefore, both of them are obliged to give you back the money which they had taken from you, and it is permissible for you to ask them to give you back your money. If they refuse, then you have the right to take the matter to one of the Islamic centres as well as appointing some righteous people to judge between you. However, if you want to forgive this out of being kind to the relatives, then your reward will be multiplied, and this is more appropriate to do, but you should be careful so that you will not be fooled in the future.
In any case, this matter should not be a cause for deserting each other, dissension and cutting ties with kinship. The one who is wrong should take the initiative to apologize, and there is no difference in this regard whether the person who is wrong is old or young.
Allaah Knows best.
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