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Does charity purify ill-gotten wealth if it intermingles with a person's lawful money, and they give charitably in abundance, whether intentionally or not?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

Unlawful wealth is of two types: The first is that which was taken by theft, usurpation, and the like. This must be returned to its owners if they are known; otherwise, it should be given as charity with the intention of repaying it if one becomes able. This also includes the excess taken by a usurer on a loan.

The second type is wealth that is unlawful due to its earning, such as the price of alcohol or gambling. What is obligatory is to give its equivalent amount and spend it on general Muslim welfare or on the poor and needy. The one who gives it out is not considered to be giving charity.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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