Q: Someone I know has gained money from haram (forbidden) sources, which he earned before repenting and turning to Allah. He is wondering whether he can use the money as a capital for a business?
A: Scholars such as Imam Ghazali and Imam Nawawi noted that among the conditions of true repentance are that: “If someone’s money is from a haram source then, as part of their repentance, they should rid themselves of it, by either handing it back to its owner, if there is one, or to his agent.
“If the original proprietor is dead, then that money must be given to his heirs.
“However, if the owner cannot be identified or there is no way to find him, the money should be spent on charitable services benefiting the community, or offering it to the poor, among other things.”
The point the scholars are making is that one should not continue to benefit from the money personally after repenting and instead should exhaust all avenues in either returning it to its owner or spending it on good.
Q: If the Prophet Mohammed loved Mecca so much and it was the dearest place to his heart, then why did he choose to stay in Medina until his death, even after the conquest of Mecca?
A: After Hijrah (the migration to Medina), Prophet Mohammed implored Allah to make him love Medina as much as Mecca or even more. Allah accepted his supplication.
It is narrated that Aisha (Prophet Mohammed’s wife) said: “When we came to Medina, and it was an unhealthy, uncongenial place to us, Abu Bakr and Bilal fell sick and when Allah’s Messenger saw the illness of his companions he said: ‘O Allah make Medina as congenial to us as you made Mecca, or more — make it conducive to health’.”
Thus Medina became dearer to the Prophet Mohammed than Mecca, as asserted by some. It was said that he became so fond of the city that upon sight of it he would move his mount as a show of delight. And Allah knows best.
If you have a question for Awqaf, email newsdesk@thenational.ae with the subject line ‘Fatwa Q&A’.