Stolen coal should be returned

Question

Zayd works for the railway and is a friend of Bakr. Zayd steals coal from the railway, brings it and burns it. Bakr knows that Zayd steals and brings the railway’s coal. Despite this knowledge, Bakr asked Zayd for coal, and Zayd sent the coal through some man. After the coal had been obtained, Bakr thought that he should return it, but the coal cannot be returned, because Zayd works in a distant city and Bakr lives in a village; therefore returning this coal is impossible.

Answer

The stolen coal should not be used. If it is not possible to return it, it should be given to some poor person with the intention that Allah, the Pure, grant deliverance from its evil consequence. One should ask someone employed there about a way of returning it; it is possible that some way will be found.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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