Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Assalam Alaykum Brother

Ramadan Kareem

Dear Brother, I receive your mails and read most of them, it give much informative in the

respective areas.

I have one query to ask you in the light of Quran & Hadith, that, during few days back I got some money (Kuwaiti Dinar 35.250) in front of one shop,

and enquired one the person whose vehicle was parked beside the area from where I got the money (floor) and also with the shop owner, and they told the money not belongs to them.

I told the shop owner to see if any body comes and ask / claims for the money, to tell me I will return back the money. Otherwise I will give them to poor

or in mosque.

2^nd day is passed now and I asked the shop owner, had any body came for money? He said no, and the shop owner asked the money to be given to him

As he said he will distribute the money to poor in his country, yet I have not given the money to him, and I decided to keep the money for 2 – 3 days more and see what best can be done.

Yesterday night I thought of my aunty (mother's sister) who is widow and poor, and also of other relatives who are poor.

Now my question is in case if no body comes in 2 – 3 days can I give this money to my aunty or my other relatives who are poor, in my home country (India), as here in Kuwait.

How long shall I keep this money and wait for the person to whom this money belongs to.

Please advise in case no body claims for the money, can I give this money to my aunty or poor or needy persons in my relation or else to whom shall this money be given to?

Awaits for your valuable advice in the light of Quran and Hadith.

Jazakallah

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

What to do with money found

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Al-Muwatta Hadith Hadith 36.46

Topic: The Judgement on Lost Property

Malik related to from Rabia ibn Abi Abd ar-Rahman that Zayd ibn Khalid al-Juhani said, "A man came to the Messenger of Allah (saws) and asked him about (the things one) finds. He (saws) said, 'Memorize the characteristics of the object found, then publicize it for a year. If the owner comes, give it to him.’

It would be illegal and immoral in Islam for a believer, who sincerely fears Allah and the Last Day, to keep and use for himself the money or valuables one finds or does not lawfully belong to him. If one finds some money or anything of value on the streets which does not belong to him, he must report the find to the relevant legal authorities who will safeguard it until the actual owner is found. To take or consume the valuables one finds for oneself would tantamount to theft in the Sight of Shariah.

If one finds money or anything valuable which does not belong to him, and is unable to report or deposit it with the legal authorities for any reason, he must try his best to locate its original owner and return his property back to him. If the believer is unable to locate the owner even after trying his best for a considerable amount of time, he may spend what he has found in charity with the intention that Allah Subhanah credit the reward of the charity to the original owner.

But under absolutely no circumstances would it be permissible for a believer to consume or utilize for oneself the valuables one finds and/or does not lawfully belong to him.

If one trusts, obeys, and follows the guidance and commands of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be assured of never ever being misled; but if one believes, obeys and follows any other guidance, other than that of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be assured of being led astray.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan