Do I Have To Compensate For Accidental Loss and Damage To Someone’s Property?
Question: Do I have to compensate for accidental loss and damage to their property?
Answer:
Wa ‘alaykum assalam wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh.
I pray you are well.
It would seem that she does not owe him anything for the stereo as it was his direct action that led to the damage of the stereo.
As for the ring, it appears that it was a gift from him to her, and she took possession of it. Technically, this made it her property, so she would not be liable for any damage or loss. If she was merely to keep hold of it, then she would be liable for the damages if she didn’t exercise due diligence in looking after it. [Maydani, al-Lubab]
Learn From Your Experiences
There are a number of lessons we can learn from the above. Firstly, the cost of lying. Whatever his intention was the lie led to the loss of the ring, indirectly. Believers should strive for the truth in all situations.
Secondly, being careful with the property of others is extremely important. All care should be taken lest one is responsible for negligence in this Life or the Next.
It also seems from the questions that they were not married at the point of the stereo incident. Forgive me if I am wrong. The contact was impermissible, and matters like this only lead to sin and harm in one’s din and dunya. I would advise this person to cease such contact until marriage and to repent to Allah. It may seem insignificant, but what if it robs the marriage of the good it could have had, or worse?
May Allah grant you the best of both worlds.
[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim Reasat
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat began his studies in Arabic Grammar and Morphology in 2005. After graduating with a degree in English and History he moved to Damascus in 2007 where, for 18 months, he studied with many erudite scholars. In late 2008 he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continued his studies for the next six years in Sacred Law (fiqh), legal theory (Usul al-fiqh), theology, hadith methodology, hadith commentary, and Logic. He was also given licenses of mastery in the science of Quranic recital and he was able to study an extensive curriculum of Quranic sciences, tafsir, Arabic grammar, and Arabic eloquence.
