Is it obligatory to return items taken after their expiration date, or to replace them with new ones, or to offer a portion of one's salary as compensation?
The basic principle is that it is not permissible to take work tools outside the workplace without the permission of the officials, because whoever takes money unjustly is like one who eats but is never full, and it will be a witness against him on the Day of Judgment. And whoever takes something without permission must return it in kind and repent to Allah Almighty, as stated in the Hadith: "On the hand is what it has taken until it returns it." If the item has expired and caused a shortage, the shortage must be compensated. If it is no longer useful, its like must be paid if found, or its value. This is because the one from whom something was usurped deserves to have what was usurped returned to him; if it is still present, it is returned in kind, and if it is lost, its like or its value is returned. The jurists have agreed on the obligation to return unjustly taken property immediately.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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