Obligation to Return Money Acquired Through False Testimony or Unlawful Means

22-2-2026 | IslamWeb

Question:

Assalamualaikum Alaykum,A 60-year-old woman committed wrongful acts 25–30 years ago. After agreeing to sell her house at a fixed price, she later demanded a higher amount and gave false testimony in court to obtain it. She also withheld small sums from her employer while working at a computer center. Now steadfast in worship, she is deeply remorseful and seeks guidance on sincere repentance and restitution.Provide sharai rulings on it.JazakAllahu Khaira!

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad () is His Slave and Messenger.

It is obligatory upon this woman to free herself from liability for what she took unlawfully through false testimony, as well as any sums she wrongfully took from her workplace.

This is to be done by returning those funds to their rightful owners, or by obtaining their pardon and forgiveness.

If she is unable to reach the rightful owners, she must give the money in charity on their behalf. As for any amount of rights whose exact value she does not know, she must strive to estimate it in a way that she believes will most likely clear her liability, acting according to what is within her ability.

Allah Knows best