Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
My cousin suffered an accident when she was younger and was granted compensation. This was then held in a trust fund until she was eighteen (she was not allowed to have the money by law) and as a result the money is more than the original amount. She is not sure whether the money was gathering interest or whether it was derived from investment..
Answer:
Walaikum assalam,
1. If able to, she would need to ask how the money increased in value.
2. If unable to ask, she has to see:
(a) if those overseeing the trust are practicing, religiously-conscious Muslims, then she can assume that the increase was through halal means;
(b) if those overseeing the trust are non-practicing Muslims, or non-Muslims, then she could not keep the amount above and beyond the initial compensation until reasonably certain that it was through a means permitted in the Shariah.
The Prophet (Allah bless him & give him peace) instructed, “Leave that which makes you doubt to that which does not make you doubt.” [Tirmidhi & Nasa’i, Nawawi confirmed that it is sound (hasan) in his Majmu`]
See answer in Related Q&A on what to do with haram money…
Walaikum assalam,
Faraz Rabbani