The Imamate of One Who Committed Forgery

Question

Zayd is a salaried imam in an Islamic institution. Zayd informed the institution that he had had his living quarters repaired and demanded the sum of forty (40) rupees. The institution asked him for a receipt for the payment of the sum of forty (40) rupees, and the said imam, certifying a receipt of his payment, demanded reimbursement.

Answer

The imam, by committing forgery, sought to obtain money wrongfully and by an improper method, but Allah Most Pure frustrated him and thereby saved him: he was unable to obtain the wrongful money. Since Allah Most High protected him and, out of His generosity, did not let the impermissible money reach him, now, if he feels remorse for his fault and repents, the followers…

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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