Is it permissible to give away the debt as charity if it is not possible to return it to my colleagues after repenting from stealing?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
The thief must repent to Allah, for theft is one of the major sins. Complete repentance involves returning the money to its owners or seeking their forgiveness. If it is impossible to return the money directly, it can be delivered through indirect means or via an intermediary. If the owners of the money cannot be identified or reached, then the money should be given as charity on their behalf and spent for the benefit of Muslims, or handed over to a just distributor, as Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) and other Tabi'un did.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/23117
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 23117
- 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