Benefiting from Ill-gotten Earnings

12-2-2018 | IslamWeb

Question:

Sheikh my father earns in a treacherous way his income is totally haram to use but he buys everything from his income and I have nothing available to use so is it permissible for me to use those things he buyed with his income I have read that ill gotten wealth is totally haram and it must be returned to its rightful owner the house we live is also a part of this how do we live should we use the electricity ,water , kitchen for cooking etc everything is haram so what do we eat I mean my mother says that out of necessity we don't have a choice for now I am still small in school unable to work Is this a sin because right now I don't have choice but to live with him and use these things and also I have a health problem (malnutrition-underweight) so I cook a lot of food by electricity is this a necessity too because in one of your fatwaas you said that in cases of necessity it is only permissible as much as necessary so is my situation sinful please it's urgent reply soon jazakallahkhairan

Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

If the entire money of your father is (Haram) ill-gotten, then it is not permissible for you to benefit from anything of it unless you are in necessity.

If you do not have money or you do not earn enough for your necessities of food, drink, clothing, and housing, then you are permitted to benefit from his money and whatever he buys with his money according to the necessity.

However, if you can meet your needs with permissible money or permissible earnings, or you have a husband who spends on you, then, in this case, it is not permissible for you to benefit from anything of his ill-gotten money.

This is based on the assumption that what you mentioned is true, that the entire money of your father is ill-gotten; even though it is unlikely that the entire earnings of a Muslim are ill-gotten.

You have to advise your father in a gentle and soft manner and warn him about the consequences of forbidden earnings, so that he may repent to Allah and stay away from what is forbidden.

Allah knows best.

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