I need some advise on an account which i used to take when i was in secondary school ( /- 9 yrs ago). i do not recall if i was baligh at that stage. i owed the tuck shop aunty a…

I need some advise on an account which i used to take when i was in secondary school ( /- 9 yrs ago).  i do not recall if i was baligh at that stage. i owed the tuck shop aunty a small amount of money since i was quiet young i dont recall to well who she is to return the money although its been so many years how do i repent for this? i did go back and try looking for her which i found out she was no longer running a tuck shop year later. ever since it has been troubling me for sometime now. the amount was R20.00.  Can i give this money as sadaqah to a poor as a repentance? please advise me.

In the name of Allāh, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Assalāmu ῾alaykum wa Rahmatullāhi Wabarakātuh

After failing to locate the creditor (in this case, the tuck shop aunty), the money should be given to the creditor’s close family members if you know them, i.e. those family members who would inherit from her, supposing she had passed away. However, if you are unaware of her family also, then, the money should now be given to the poor.^[1]

Together with the repayment, the entire procedure should be accompanied with sincere regret and tawbah, just as you have realized and expressed, Mashallah. By doing so, you will Insha Allah be forgiven for the delay in the repayment and absolved of the debt.^[2]

(Raddul Muhtar Vol. 4, Pg. 282, H. M. Said)

And Allāh Ta῾āla Knows Best
Wassalāmu ῾alaykum 

Ml. Zeyad Danka,
Student Dārul Iftā

Checked and Approved by:
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Dārul Iftā, Madrasah In῾āmiyyah

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