How Much of a Mixed Account Is Haram, and Are Its Purchases Unlawful?
Hanafi Fiqh
Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Question
Someone had 3,000 dollars of halal money, and 12,000 of haram money was made. All of it was put in a mixed checking account. After one year, after spending, he returned to around 3,000 dollars. How much of that money is haram? Are the things that were purchased haram? May he still study if he paid some of his university tuition with this money? He receives 50 dollars a month from his parents; is this fine to spend? He also cheated someone of around 5 dollars, but that person passed away. Does he return it to the heirs, and can he spend any halal portion while owing these obligations?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Merciful and Compassionate.
What you bought, your tuition included, is lawful to keep and use. Thus, you can continue your studies. And the money in your account is not, in itself, haram. What remains is a debt: the unlawful amount owed in your liability (dhimma).
Ibn Abidin explains that once someone mixes unlawful money with his own, he owns it, and “its equivalent became a debt in his liability, not the money itself.” [Ibn Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar]
What to do:
One. Confirm the amount with a scholar who knows the details, including where the 12,000 came from.
Two. Return it to those it was taken from; if they cannot be known, give it to the poor.
Three. Give the 5 dollars to the deceased’s heirs, or, if they cannot be found, in charity for him.
Four. Pay steadily, starting with the account balance. Your parents’ 50 dollars is lawful; spend on your needs while you pay.
Repent, then study the rulings of earning a living with a teacher or in a course, so that what you earn comes to you clean.
And Allah knows best.
Faraz Rabbani
Related Answers
One. Can I Keep a Phone Bought with Haram Money? — Ustadh Tabraze Azam: An item bought with unlawful money may be kept; the amount enters your dues and is returned or given away.
Two. How Should One Dispose Mixed Acquired Money? — Mawlana Ilyas Patel: Estimating the unlawful share of mixed money and giving it away, not as charity for reward.
«النصوص» · Source-Texts
[ابن عابدين، رد المحتار]
لِأَنَّا نَقُولُ: إنَّهُ لَمَّا خَلَطَهَا مَلَكَهَا وَصَارَ مِثْلُهَا دَيْنًا فِي ذِمَّتِهِ لَا عَيْنَهَا
Shaykh Faraz Rabbani is a recognized specialist scholar in the Islamic sciences, having studied under leading scholars from around the world. He is the Founder and Executive Director of SeekersGuidance.Shaykh Faraz stands as a distinguished figure in Islamic scholarship. His journey in seeking knowledge is marked by dedication and depth. He spent ten years studying under some of the most revered scholars of our times. His initial studies took place in Damascus. He then continued in Amman, Jordan. In Damascus, he was privileged to learn from the late Shaykh Adib al-Kallas. Shaykh Adib al-Kallas was renowned as the foremost theologian of his time. Shaykh Faraz also studied under Shaykh Hassan al-Hindi in Damascus. Shaykh Hassan is recognized as one of the leading Hanafi jurists of our era. Upon completing his studies, Shaykh Faraz returned to Canada in 2007. His return marked a new chapter in his service to the community. He founded SeekersGuidance. The organization reflects his commitment to spreading Islamic knowledge. It aims to be reliable, relevant, inspiring, and accessible. This mission addresses both online and on-the-ground needs. Shaykh Faraz is also an accomplished author. His notable work includes “Absolute Essentials of Islam: Faith, Prayer, and the Path of Salvation According to the Hanafi School.” This book, published by White Thread Press in 2004, is a significant contribution to Islamic literature. His influence extends beyond his immediate community. Since 2011, Shaykh Faraz has been recognized as one of the 500 most influential Muslims. This recognition comes from the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Center. It underscores his impact on the global Islamic discourse. Shaykh Faraz Rabbani’s life and work embody a profound commitment to Islamic scholarship. His teachings continue to enlighten and guide seekers of knowledge worldwide.
