The Ruling on the Belongings and Dwelling of Someone Who Went to Pakistan

Question

Ahmad has a room here. He went to Pakistan and settled there. There are some belongings in his room. A letter was written to the respected Ahmad about the belongings, but he gave no particular reply; however, he is alive. What is the ruling now regarding his belongings? Zayd, who is a friend of Ahmad, is paying the rent of Ahmad’s room and has also lodged one of his relatives in that room.

Answer

The belongings that are there should be kept safe and the owner should be asked. If he writes that they should be given as a gift, sold or given away as sadaqa, that should be acted upon. If the owner says so, the room should be handed over to the owner, or an arrangement should be made with him, so that he does not remain under the misapprehension that Ahmad has given it to…

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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