Assalamu-alaikum, I found some money (1 note of Bangladeshi 500 Taka, equivalent to US $7) at the Masjid premise (that leads to the entrance/exit of the Masjid and Madrasa), on January 18, 2008. Instantly I enquired to few people like Muazzin, Khadem of Masjid and some labours whether they lost any money. They said ‘NO’. I thought it was lost from any worker (Madrasa-construction work was going on ) and hence enquired my best but found no one claiming the money. Then I requested the Muazzin to make a decleration after Isha Farz Salaah among the Musallis regarding the lost money. He did so. But no one came or claimed. Then I asked a local Ulama regarding the matter and he replied, I should wait for 2 months. If in the mean time no one came to claim the money, I should give the money to poor people. 1 (one) month has already passed. I’m confused about what to do with that note. Please provide me answers for the following queries on the basis of the written matter: 1). Should I really wait for another 1 month (total 2 months) to find the owner of the money? 2). What other types of decleration should I make to find the owner? Should I make some posters and paste them on the Masjid building? 3). If I can give the money to the poor right now, waiting no further, Should I give all the money to a single poor man/woman or I can give among 50 people at same or more & less proportionate. 4). If someone asks me for a loan of 500 Taka, Can I give him that note of 500 Taka since it’s in my pocket for long 1 month without being used , finding no owner? Inshallah (5) I can give the same amount if the real owner claims the money after I give the money to someone as loan. Please, read carefully and provide all the necessary and possible annwers with available options I have. ZazakAllah
Answer
(Fatwa: 866/1159=H/1429)
(1) It is better to wait for one more month i.e. if two months have passed by and you yourself tried to find out its owner and also you made others find out the owner, then you should give that amount to any poor.
(2) It is also good to stick notice outside of the mosque, not inside the mosque, in order to find out the owner of the money. Moreover, you can adopt any means you like for announcement.
(3) In the abovementioned case, you may give the money to any poor with any further waiting. It is up to you whether to give it to one poor man or more than one, whether they are men or women.
(4) It is also right to give that money to any poor and make him possess it if he asks for loan.
(5) There is no problem to do so.
Allah (Subhana Wa Ta’ala) knows Best
Darul Ifta,
Darul Uloom Deoband
