Is It Haram to Keep a Gift That May Have Been Stolen?

Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat

Question

Is it haram to keep a gift that you were gifted from someone who bought it from someone that he may have stolen it?

Answer

I pray you are well. 

No, it is not permissible to keep such a gift if it has been stolen. You should return it to the person who gifted it to you and express your concerns. It may be that they are unaware of it being potentially stolen. He should go and return it to whoever he purchased it from. (Usmani, Fiqh al-Buyu’)

It’s best to stay away from such property. It’s unlikely to bring any good or blessings into your life.

May Allah protect us from what is not permissible for us.

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. He was able to study an extensive curriculum of Quranic sciences, tafsir, Arabic grammar, and Arabic eloquence.