QUESTION:
Money was mistakenly deposited into my bank account. Three months have passed without anyone coming forward to claim the deposit, while I have also tried to trace the depositor, but to no avail. Please advise what should be done with this money?
ANSWER:
If the money is worth more than 10 dirhams (which is currently R430.00 in value), then you should keep the money for at least a year. You should try to trace the depositor via the banking institute if possible, and return the funds if you are certain that the correct person has been identified. If after waiting for a year, the money is not claimed, then you may give it to a recipient of Zakaat. However, if the owner appears after discharging the money in charity, then you will be liable to reimburse him, unless he approves of the charity.
(فَإِنْ كَانَتْ أَقَلَّ مِنْ عَشَرَةِ دَرَاهِمَ عَرَّفَهَا أَيَّامًا، وَإِنْ كَانَتْ عَشَرَةً فَصَاعِدًا عَرَّفَهَا حَوْلًا كَامِلًا) وَهَذِهِ رِوَايَةٌ عَنْ أَبِي حَنِيفَةَ—– (فَإِنْ جَاءَ صَاحِبُهَا وَإِلَّا تَصَدَّقَ بِهَا) أَمَّا إذَا جَاءَ صَاحِبُهَا وَأَقَامَ الْبَيِّنَةَ سَلَّمَهَا إلَيْهِ إيصَالًا لِلْحَقِّ إلَى مُسْتَحِقِّهِ وَذَلِكَ وَاجِبٌ. وَأَمَّا إذَا لَمْ يَجِئْ يَتَصَدَّقْ بِهَا لِيَصِلَ خَلْفُهَا إلَيْهِ وَهُوَ الثَّوَابُ عَلَى اعْتِبَارِ إجَازَتِهِ التَّصَدُّقَ بِهَا، وَإِنْ شَاءَ أَمْسَكَهَا رَجَاءَ الظَّفَرِ بِصَاحِبِهَا. قَوْلُهُ (فَإِنْ جَاءَ صَاحِبُهَا) يَعْنِي بَعْدَ التَّصَدُّقِ بِهَا فَهُوَ بِالْخِيَارِ إنْ شَاءَ أَجَازَ الصَّدَقَةَ وَلَهُ ثَوَابَهَا، وَإِنْ شَاءَ ضَمَّنَ الْمُلْتَقِطَ فَإِنْ ضَمَّنَهُ لَمْ يَرْجِعْ بِهَا عَلَى الْمِسْكِينِ؛ لِأَنَّهُ بِالتَّضْمِينِ مَلَكَهَا فَظَهَرَ أَنَّهُ تَصَدَّقَ بِمِلْكِ نَفْسِهِ فَلَهُ ثَوَابُهَا (الجوهرة النيرة ص356 ج1)
ALLAH TA’ALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST!
ANSWERED BY:
Mufti Mohammed Desai
Date:- 08 Safar 1445 / 25 August 2023
