Is it obligatory to return stolen goods to their owners, knowing that doing so might lead to great harm?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
Repentance is achieved by returning what was stolen to its owners, and thereby one's responsibility is cleared. It is not a condition to inform them of the theft; rather, the aim is to deliver the stolen item to them by any means. Repentance is not complete without this. Whatever harm is anticipated from informing them, it is lesser than the disgrace of the Hereafter.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/180137
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 180137
- 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