Using a stolen cellphone

Q: I have a Muslim friend and he shared something with me secretly but I couldnt answer... he said that once he stole a telephone from someone, and he is still using that, but he cant find the owner to return it. I told him to sell the phone and give the money in charity.. but I am not a scholar so I am not sure what he should do?

A: The better thing is to give the phone itself in charity on behalf of the person he stole it from and beg Allah's forgiveness.

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

 

Answered by:

Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)