Is it permissible for me to take money from a joint bank account with a non-Muslim friend who passed away, after he had initially given me permission to take the money and then prevented me from doing so, and should I give the money to his non-Muslim brother or donate it as charity, especially given that the law allows me to take it?

1. What the questioner withdrew from the joint account before the owner of the money passed away and before he was prevented from doing so, is considered a seized gift that cannot be revoked, based on the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) saying: "The one who revokes his gift is like a dog that vomits and then returns to its vomit."

2. What remained in the account after the prohibition of withdrawal, remains the property of its owner, and the questioner has no right to withdraw anything from it, because the permission and authorization have ceased with the prohibition. This is not a gift but a mere permission, and the owner of the money has the right to revoke it whenever he wishes.

3. After the death of the owner of the money, the money becomes the property of his legal heirs, and the questioner is not permitted to dispose of it or give it as charity. If the sole heir is his brother, then the money must be given to him.

4. Trusts must be returned to their rightful owners, as Allah Almighty says: "Indeed, Allah commands you to render trusts to whom they are due."