Fatwa ID: 03131

Answered by:  Shaykh Umer Khan​

Question:

A question from a sister: If she was asked to pay money for a gift, and she enquired what gift it is then it is told to her that it is an idol, and she gives them money, and realize later that she did a big sin, then she cannot ask directly for her money back and ask to buy chocolate or chips, and does taubah and she feels like to take the money from the purse of lady demand money because they did not buy chocolate or chips, her question is can she take back the money from her purse without her knowing

Answer:

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

Taking back the money from the other woman's purse without her knowledge would be considered stealing, which is impermissible. The Prophet ﷺ is reported to have said: "Indeed, Allāh does not wipe out an evil deed with another evil deed. Instead, He wipes out evil deeds with good deeds. Indeed, the repulsive does not wipe out the repulsive" (Musnad of Imām Aḥmad, 1/387). One of the principles in Islāmic law is " لا ضرر ولا ضرار", meaning that no harm shall be met by harm. Part of this principle is that there should be no counter harm in response to harm.

The woman should instead continue to make tawbah (repent) and perform istighfār (seek forgiveness from Allāh) and displace the mistake by engaging in other good deeds.

Only Allah knows best

Written by Shaykh Umer Khan

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham