Business started with haraam money

Q: I want to know that is the profit made through halaal business that was initially started by haraam money is halaal or haraam to use. Example: If I use haraam money and start a halaal business and I earn some profits from that business so that profit is halaal or haraam? Please let me know the Islamic rulings about this issue.

A: If the business was done and thereafter the payments were done with haraam money then the transaction is right, however the wealth which was used was incorrect. That amount should be returned to the actual owners if they could be traced. If for some reason the haraam money cannot be returned to them, give it out in charity on their behalf.

And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.

Answered by:

Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)