What is the ruling on dealing with a corrupt real estate project to seize people's money, and is it permissible to complete the project to restore their rights, and to supplicate for its completion with this intention, and is it permissible to take a necessary amount of money after restoring rights, based on the fatwa of Sheikh Ibn Baz?
Deceiving wealthy individuals and taking their money to invest it in a real estate project without their knowledge is forbidden. "Whoever cheats us is not of us." Placing money in a venture without authorization is an transgression that necessitates restitution. Therefore, the people's money must be returned.
It is impermissible to continue with a forbidden project, for what is with Allah cannot be attained through disobedience.
You may only take back your principal. Any excess is ill-gotten gain ( money) that must be disposed of by spending it on Muslim welfare or giving it to the poor and needy, unless its owner is poor and in need, in which case they may take what suffices their needs.
Repentance requires getting rid of what is unlawful and returning it to its rightful owners, feeling remorse, and resolving not to return to the sin.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 120471
- 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
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