Is owning an apartment that was nationalized by the state, after it was given to me by my father who bought it from someone who did not have clear ownership of it, permissible (halal), especially if I don't take it, one of the officials will?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
If someone finds unlawfully acquired money and neither the owner is known nor can be ascertained, then they may spend it on themselves and their families if they are in need, because the way to deal with ill-gotten gains is to give them away in charity, and it is permissible to spend them on one's own needs. As for this apartment, if you are among those entitled to it, then you may own it; otherwise, you should give it to someone who is entitled to it. For this reason, it is permissible for impoverished heirs to take unlawful money from an inheritance, whose owner is unknown, as a charity on behalf of its owner.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/54290
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 54290
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy