Is it obligatory to return the value of stolen goods as of the day of the theft, or their current value, when the owner is unknown? And does Allah forgive the thief whose financial situation improved from the stolen money?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
One must repent to Allah Almighty for theft by abandoning the sin, regretting it, and resolving never to return to it. Rights must be restored to their owners by returning the stolen item to them, or something similar if that is not possible, or its value on the day of the theft. Effort must be made to identify the owners, and if they cannot be reached, then its value should be given as charity on their behalf.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/193625
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 193625
- 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