The owner of the goods left before taking payment

Question: 4616

I bought some goods from a
person on the basis that I would pay him for them afterwards. Then I travelled and when I
came back, I found out that he had left, and I could not find out where he is now. I left
my address with his friends, but he has never got in touch. What should I do?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah and his family.

You have to ask the people who know him and
make the effort to find out where he is, then send the money to him, or else go and see
him and give him what is due to him, because the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon him) said: “Every Muslim is sacred to another Muslim in his blood, his wealth
and his honour.” It is not permissible for you to take the matter lightly. If you are
unable to find him, then give the money in charity on his behalf, with the intention of
repaying him too. If you then find him, then give him the choice between getting what is
owed to him, in which case you will have the reward of giving in charity, or accepting the
fact that you gave it in charity, in which case the reward will be his. Allaah says
(interpretation of the meaning):

“So keep your duty to Allaah and fear Him as much as
you can” [al-Taghaabun 64:16]

“Allaah burdens not a person beyond his scope”
[al-Baqarah 2:286]

Shaykh Ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him).

Source:

Shaykh Ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him). Fataawa Islamiyyah, 3/11

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