Returning an item to it's rightful owner

Q: If a person leaves something in someone's house and then he forgets about the thing and the other person also does not give his thing back to the person who owns it and now the owner of the thing is not in contact with the person. Someone told the person that he has to give money to some Islamic center if he can't return it. What is the solution that would be better?

A: It still belongs to the rightful owner who forgot it in the house. It has to be returned to him.

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

Answered by:

Mufti Zakaria Makada

Checked & Approved:

Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)