Confiscating items from students

QUESTION:

If an Ustaad confiscates an item from a student, can the Ustaad charge the student a fee to get his item back? If the Ustaad is allowed to do so, can the money collected be used in the Madrasah, or should it be given in charity?

ANSWER:

If an Ustaad confiscates an item from a student, then the item should be returned to the student at a later stage. It is incorrect for the Ustaad to penalize the student monetarily, before returning the item to him. The Hadith states, “The wealth of a Muslim person is not Halaal except that he gives it with a happy heart.” [Kanzul Ummaal Hadith no.397] If the Ustaad imposed a monetary fine upon a student, then such funds should be returned to the student. It is not correct to utilize the funds in the Madrasah or in any other avenue. [Re:- Fataawa Mahmoodiyyah Pg.317 Vol.20]

 لَا يَحِلُّ مَالُ امْرِئٍ مُسْلِمٍ إلَّا بِطِيبَةِ نَفْسٍ مِنْهُ (كنز العمال)

 وَالْحَاصِلُ أَنَّ الْمَذْهَبَ عَدَمُ التَّعْزِيرِ بِأَخْذِ الْمَالِ (البحر الرائق ص44 ج5)

ALLAH TA’ALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST!

ANSWERED BY:

Mufti Mohammed Desai

Date:- 06 Safar 1445 / 23 August 2023