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Fatwa CenterWants to repay for theft and repent
Question
Salam alikum,
i hope your in good health andgood well.
I four years ago was working at a clothing store, where i was weak in iman in past. I was involved in purchasing few suits for 1/3 of thier value, without owner/manger permission. which i consider stealing. - suits bought at 1/3 of Selling price 4 years ago- real value might be 30-50% of selling price -i want to repent and they are still in good condition.
- the store owner, is a big thief and is a big jewish man, which if i return them to owner (non-beliver) he might cause me harm by contacting police as he is very strict, and its been 4 years.
- i want to know how to repent and weather i should dispose them to masjid or burn them.. or give sadaqah of estimated price difference.
- but i am very not good financially, and these suits each was selling for $700, i paid 1/3 of thier price. without owner knowledge, but my ignorance 4 years ago thought if i pay some money then its not stealing.
- but i want to repent, so please guide as to what i should do.
RegardsSinan
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. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.
The questioner should repent from what he did by fulfilling the conditions of a repentance mentioned in Fatwa 87903. Purchasing goods less than its actual price without the permission of the owner is deception, cheating and stealing the money which is not paid.
Among the conditions of repentance is giving back the rights of the people. Therefore, you have to pay the difference of the price of the suits to the owner of the shop. If you fear that he may harm you, then it is not compulsory to inform him of the reality. It is enough to return the money by any means such as putting it in the cash register or any other safe way; what is important is that the money should reach its real owner. So, you are not relieved from your responsibility by burning the suits, as this is destroying the money. You are not relieved even if you give the money to a mosque or poor people as long as you know the real owner and you are able to pay back his right. You become free only be paying back the money to its real owner.
Allaah Knows best.
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