Is it obligatory to inform a friend and return stolen money after many years of the theft and repentance?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
Theft is one of the greatest sins. The Law has prescribed the punishment of cutting off the hand for it, and texts in the Qur'an and have warned against it. Whoever commits it must repent to Allah and return the stolen goods to their owner. If he cannot find the owner, he should give them away in charity on his behalf. If he finds the owner later, he should inform him and give him the choice between approving the charity or taking his right. He is not obliged to inform him about the theft itself.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/153092
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 153092
- 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