I have a question regarding my business. I have workshop to manufacture iron products like windows, gates etc in which we take advance money to customer but some do not come to take their product. We also take old iron product to modified it but some do not come to take it. We try to contact them but we can’t contact because of improper address. Now we have closed the workshop due to some reasons. So, what should we do to deposit the money and old materials of the customers? Can we give these amount to needy person?
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
(Fatwa: 343/264/D=05/1437)
If the whereabouts of the persons who have paid the amount or kept their goods are not known and they are out of reach then in such a case you may distribute their belongings to the poor and needy ones making an intention of sadaqah from its real owners. And later on if the owner comes to you, tell him that you have given it in charity to some poor in his name. In case the owner does not approve it, then you shall get the reward of the sadaqah and you should return its price to the owner.
Allah knows Best!
Darul Ifta,
Darul Uloom Deoband