Is it permissible to consider money given to a stranger to buy food, but he stole it and did not return and did not answer the phone, as charity?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
If a person's money is stolen, it is a calamity by which Allah expiates his sins. A rank may be recorded for him through it, and a sin may be erased from him. The stolen money does not cease to be the property of its owner. He is permitted to intend it as a voluntary charity for the one who stole it, but he is not permitted to intend it as part of his money. This is because the owner's possession over it is weak, and the money was not given out with the intention of charity. Zakat must be from good money that is in the possession of the zakat payer.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/190974
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 190974
- 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