Buying a Stolen Item

Question

A boy approaching maturity (murahiq) was walking through the bazaar, and he had a valuable item. He says, “I am selling it,” named a very low price, and the item was bought at an extremely low price. He was asked whether it was stolen; he denied it, but from the circumstantial indications it is most likely that it was a stolen item. What should now be done with it: should it be given away as sadaqa, or should something else be done?

Answer

An item about which the prevailing opinion, based on circumstantial indications, is that it is stolen, is not correct to buy. If one has already bought it, he should return it. If the owner becomes known, he should hand it over to him, and then, if he wishes, he may come to an agreement with him and buy it.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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