What is the ruling on taking promotional clothing without informing the person responsible for it, and is prayer performed in it acceptable, and how can one atone for this act if it is unlawful and cannot be returned?
Clothes taken without the owner's knowledge are considered theft if the owner does not permit or consent to it, and it is not permissible to pray in them. Scholars have differed regarding the invalidity of prayer performed in such garments. The Hanbalis consider it invalid, while the majority of scholars believe it is valid, though sinful, due to the absence of explicit evidence for its invalidity. Praying in these clothes may fulfill the obligation and discharge one's duty, but their acceptance and reward are known only to Allah. Sincere repentance is obligatory, and one must dispose of these clothes by returning them to their owners, as the rights of human beings are based on strict accountability, and prophetic traditions have warned against taking people's property without right.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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