Receiving a double payment

Question:-

A student receives a grant from Sassa. Sassa missed a payment during one particular month. However, when notified, they refused to reimburse the student. Now, Sassa has credited the student’s account with a double payment. Is it is correct for him to keep the additional payment in lieu of the missed payment?

Answer:-

If Sassa had skipped a payment in the past due to negligence and are not willing to compensate the student for the missed payment then the student is at liberty to utilise the double payment when received. The one amount (of the double payment) will be in lieu of the missed payment, whilst the other payment will be in lieu of his current payment that is due to him.

However, if they haven’t skipped any payment in the past and you now receive a double payment in error, then you are only entitled to utilise the current payment and the extra payment should be returned.

ALLAH TA’ALA KNOWS BEST!

ANSWERED BY:

Mufti Mohammed Desai

Date: 27 Rabi-ul-Aakhir 1434 / 02 December 2021