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What is the ruling on money taken before repentance, and how is it to be returned to its owners, and what is the reason for the questioner's lack of success in provision after repentance?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

Whoever takes people's money unjustly must seek absolution from them, either by returning what was taken or by asking for forgiveness and pardon. If the owners are known, the money should be returned, estimating the amount in a way that clears one's conscience. It is not a condition to inform them of one's identity; rather, one can seek their forgiveness without revealing who they are. As for those whose owners are unknown, one should give charity on their behalf with that money, while guaranteeing it to them should they be identified later. By doing so, one's repentance becomes valid, and one is safe from the consequences of the sin. It is not necessary for the exact object of a supplication to be granted for the supplication to be answered. The believer should hold himself accountable without excessiveness that leads to despair. What a servant does not attain of provision might be better for him, and provision is a test of faith.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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