Islam Question and Answer - He embezzled public funds and still has some of them; how should he repent?

Tue 7/12/1430 - 24/11/2009

» It is essential that the sacrificial animal be slaughtered by a Muslim with the intention of offering a sacrifice (udhiyah).

» Etiquette of Eid.

» It is not stipulated that fasts be observed consecutively for one who cannot find a hadiy.

» Ruling on takbeer in unison before the Eid prayer.

» What should be done if Eid coincides with Friday.

» The time for udhiyah (sacrifice).

» Guidance of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) regarding Eid prayers.

» He forgot to fast the third day during Hajj and fasted it after he returned home.

» Ruling on Eid prayers .

» For how many people is the udhiyah sufficient?.

102261

Etiquette, Morals and Heart-Softeners » The Heart Softeners » Repentance

He embezzled public funds and still has some of them; how should he repent?

Several years ago, I gathered much of public money in illegal ways through bribes and embezzlement. I repented to Allah, and want to know what I shall do with this money, as I cannot return it to the individuals in charge because they are thieves, plus this will create a scandal for me. Most of my home contents are from this money, gold, lands, cars, even the clothes I wear and the computer by which I am sending this question by a brother’s help, and many other things. I used this money in trade, it increased and decreased, and spent a lot of it for my brother’s and my cousin’s marriage, and my own marriage as well. I spent a lot of it buying many things, not haram things; normal things for home, etc. I gave charity out of it for relatives and needy people. Am I permitted to keep some of this money with me because the monthly salary is not enough for our needs, and life is expensive and difficult here? Please enlighten me as I live in a nightmare. I fear I die before I correct this great sin.

Praise be to Allaah.

It is not permissible to transgress against public wealth by stealing, embezzling and so on. The one who does that is transgressing against the Muslims as a whole, not only against the state, and the one who takes any such thing does not own it, and he has to give it back to the bayt al-maal (state treasury), because of the report narrated by Ahmad (20098), Abu Dawood (3561), al-Tirmidhi (1266) and Ibn Majaah (2400) from Samurah ibn Jundub (may Allaah be pleased with him) who said that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The hand that takes is responsible for what it has taken until it returns it.” al-Tirmidhi said: A saheeh hasan hadeeth. Shu’ayb al-Arna’out said in Tahqeeq al-Musnad: it is hasan li ghayrihi (hasan because of corroborating evidence).

Ibn Qudaamah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: Once this is established, the one who embezzled something must return it if it still exists, and there is no difference of scholarly opinion as far as we know. Al-Mughni (5/38).

Returning it is part of repenting properly. In order for repentance to be accepted, it is essential that property and rights be restored to their owners, along with regret, asking for forgiveness and resolving not to do it again.

But if it cannot be returned to the bayt al-maal, then what is left of the money should be given in charity to the poor and needy, but if he is poor it is permissible for him to take from it as much as he needs. As for that which has already been consumed, spent and disposed of, we hope that Allaah will forgive him for that.

See also the answer to question no. 85266 and 81915.

And Allaah knows best.

Islam Q&A