After which he left without taking any money

409

Q 2: I dealt with a dressmaker, and I owe him 250 Riyals. He finished his work and traveled, and I have not given him his right. What should I do? I agreed with another dressmaker to make me five dresses for 500 Riyals. He gave me three dresses, and I gave him 300 Riyals. He still owes me two dresses, and I still owe him 200 Riyals. I stopped frequenting him for some time, and then this worker was replaced with another one. What should I do? There is another dressmaker who owes me a dress and I owe him 180 Riyals, and the worker was also replaced with another one. A worker once changed the oil of my car, (Part No. 15; Page No. 122) and he had no change, so I promised him to pay the money soon, which was thirty Riyals. I was late for some time, and when I returned to the shop I found that the worker was replaced with another one and the shop was sold. What should I do? Given that all this was before Tawbah (repentance to Allah), and now I have repented. Please advise as soon as possible so that I can get rid of these sins.

A: As for the worker who works in a well-known shop and you owe him money, you should return the sum of money to the shop owner if you do not find the worker, because he works for the shop owner and takes his wages in return. As for the dressmaker, he deserves the money if he has finished the dresses. If he has not finished the dresses, you do not have to pay him the money. As for the worker who changed the car oil, you should ask about him and give him his money. If you neither find him nor find anyone to tell you about him, you should give the money as a Sadaqah (voluntary charity) on his behalf. If you later are able to find him, tell him what you have done. If he accepts it, that will be fine; otherwise, you should give him his right, and you will be rewarded for the Sadaqah. (Part No. 15; Page No. 123) May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.