Disposing of a trust when its owner has gone missing

Question

Question: A man placed 260 rupees with me in trust (amana), and today fifteen years have passed, and there is no knowing where he has gone. May we put that trust to some good work? May we put it into the bayt al-mal (public treasury), a madrasa, or some other good work, or not? May we lend it to the needy on the responsibility of others, or not?

Answer

It is necessary to keep this trust safe just as it is: do not give it to a madrasa, nor to another needy person, do not lend it, and do not give it away as sadaqa.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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