Saturday, 18 April 2026 (1 Dhuʻl-Qiʻdah 1447 AH)
Question: Three men stole a car from Ṣanʿāʾ, then sold it to the father of one of them. The father then died, and his son—the thief who was one of the three—together with his brothers, sisters, and mother, inherited the car. Later, when the son heard admonitions and guidance, he regretted it and wanted to clear himself and repent. What should he do, and what is incumbent upon him, given that he does not know the car’s owner?
Answer—and Allah is the One who grants success and aid: Even though the car was sold, it still belongs to the one from whom it was stolen. The father who bought the car—his purchase is invalid. When he died, it was not part of his estate, and no division of it is valid, for—as we said—it remains the property of its owner.
As for liability: everyone in whose hand it came is liable for it—the three thieves are liable for it; indeed each one of them is liable for it, and its purchaser is liable for it. What is incumbent upon everyone in whose hand it came is to return it to its owner, for He Most High says: "Indeed, Allah commands you to render trusts to whom they are due …" [An-Nisāʾ:58].
As for ignorance of the owner: he can be identified via the customs office, since the car was registered with customs, as you mentioned. You have no excuse when identification is possible. Nor are you excused by fear of being apprehended by the authorities, for there are ways to contrive delivery of the car to its owner by whatever means possible. He Most High has said: "And whoever is mindful of Allah—He will make for him a way out" [At-Ṭalāq:2], and "Indeed, Allah is with those who fear Him and those who are doers of good." [An-Naḥl:128].
Therefore, what is obligatory upon this man who wishes to repent is to return the car to its owner. Thereafter, he may seek from the co-thieves the price they took from his father, if he wishes—since they took it unlawfully.
Source: Min Thimār al-ʿIlm wa al-Ḥikmah vol.2