Darul Uloom Trinidad & Tobago

QUESTION:

Assalamu alaikum.

A worker came to my place long time ago, at salaah time he took off his watch to make wudu.  After he finished the job and left,  I saw he forgot his watch, I did try to contact him and also passed by where he was suppose to be staying but he was no longer there. It has been yrs now and watch is still there.  What should i do with the watch since I have not found him nor can contact him through anyone????

ANSWER:

Wa Alaikum As Salaam,

In this situation, you can give the watch to one who is needy, with the intention that you are giving it on behalf of the owner as a sadaqah (charity). If, after giving it away in this manner, the man comes to you for his watch, then you can replace it with another watch or give him the worth of it in money. If this happens, then you will now receive the blessings of what you have done before.

And Allah Knows best

Mufti Waseem Khan

21/03/2018