Q. One person deceived another and got away with some money from him. Now he regrets what he did and has repented. What should he do concerning the money? He is too ashamed to inform the man of what he did to him. What should he do?

M. Khan

A. What we should know is that when we repent our past sins, slips or mistakes, God will forgive us the part that is owed to Him, i.e. any shortfall in performing our duty toward Him. Anything that we owe to other people, He will not forgive unless the person concerned forgoes his right. Therefore, it is important that we should give back to other people what belongs to them. If we have verbally abused them and they are not aware of the fact, we should tell them and beg their pardon. If we have taken their money, we should refund them what we had taken.

This may sound too ideal, particularly in a situation where it is very difficult for any of us to admit a guilt that the other party is unaware of. But if we are aiming for God’s forgiveness, this is what we should do. After all, if you go to someone and tell him that you had wronged him in a particular manner, of which he is unaware, your confession will win you his favor. He will realize that you had no benefit by making such a confession other than to wipe your slate clean. He may appreciate your gesture and you two may become the best of friends.

Some people, however, might not take such a confession in this way. If you fear that your admission of your past misdeed may bring trouble to you, try to get the money back to him in an indirect way, perhaps through a mutual friend or a relative you can trust. Such a friend should tell him that the money is due to him and he cannot reveal the identity of the person who asked him to deliver it. You may then gauge by his attitude what he would do if he knows that you are the one concerned.

Pregnancy and Fasting

Q.1. Could you support your views on pregnancy and fasting published in Ramadan with evidence.

Q.2. Were Prophet Abraham’s sons born to his wife, Hagar?

Q.3. Is the angel of death, Izraeel, one angel or a group?

Q.4. What is the history of the Qiba Mosque?

(Name and address withheld)

A.1. It is often the case that there are different views on questions put by readers. If we were to discuss such views and the evidence supporting each and how each school of thought arrived at their ruling, we will need far more space than we can allocate and readers will often end up more confused. Therefore, we often explain the case and give the verdict we consider the best applicable to it. However, to cite some of the evidence we say that both Ibn Umar and Ibn Abbas say that “if a pregnant or nursing woman fears for her or her child’s health, she does not fast but pays compensation. She does not need to fast compensatory days.” Abu Dawood relates on the authority of Ikrimah that Ibn Abbas commented on the Qur’anic verse stating: “Those who find fasting a strain too hard to bear may compensate for it by feeding a needy person.” (2: 184) He said: “This gives a concession to elderly men and women who find fasting too hard. They do not fast, but feed a poor person in compensation for every day they do not fast. The same applies to pregnant and nursing mothers: If they fear ill consequences, they do not fast but feed a poor person.” It is agreed that the feeding is two meals for each day, of the type of food one normally eats at home.

A.2. Prophet Abraham had two sons: The elder, Ismaeel, or Ishmael, was born to Hagar, while Ishaaq, or Isaac, was born to Sarah, Abraham’s first wife.

A.3. There is no authentic report that gives the name of the angel of death. The reference to him in the Qur’an and the Hadith suggests that he is one angel, but the task of gathering the souls of human beings could be assigned to as many angels as God wishes. This is an aspect about which we have no specific or accurate knowledge. We prefer not to go into it, because we cannot be certain of any conclusion we may arrive at.

A.4. The Qiba mosque was the first to be built in Islam. It was built by the Prophet (peace be upon him) when he arrived there on his way to Madinah