Is it permissible to give the value of a video cassette – which I took and did not return to its owner – as charity, or must I return it, knowing that its content is useless and many years have passed since then?

The tape must be returned to its owner if its content is permissible, based on the Prophet's (PBUH) saying: "The hand is responsible for what it takes until it returns it." One's conscience is not cleared by giving charity equal to its value. You are not obliged to inform her of your actions; rather, you can send it with someone who will deliver it to her without informing her of the sender. However, if the content of the tape is forbidden, such as musical instruments or immodest images, then the forbidden material must be destroyed and the empty tape returned to its owner, based on His (PBUH) saying: "Whoever among you sees an evil, let him change it with his hand..."