Fatwa ID: 03492

Answered by:  Alimah Nasima Umm Hamza

Question 

If someone purchased an item and found out later that it was stolen from someone else or it was a lost item and the original owner is asking for it, can he ask the original owner to pay him how much it cost him to purchase it? 

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

In The Name Of Allah, The Most-Gracious, The Most-Merciful  

Answer:

It is obligatory to return the item to the original owner. The value of the item is not on the owner since it is his ownership in origin.[1] The one who unjustly sold you the item will be liable for the amount you paid.  

Only Allah knows best 

Written by Alimah Nasima Umm Hamza 

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah 

Darul Ifta Birmingham