How may a debt be repaid when the creditor’s whereabouts are unknown?
2026-10-13
F183 · Selected fatwas
Shaykh Ibn Bāz
الشيخ عبد العزيز بن عبد الله بن باز
Original Q&A · Full displayed answer
The complete question concerns a creditor whose address is unknown after contact has been lost. The answer retains the creditor’s choice if he later returns and the requirement to pay him if he does not approve the charity. It is not presented as permission to refuse repayment to a creditor who can be reached.
النص العربي
السؤال الأصلي
المستمع (م. أ. س) من الرياض بعث يسأل ويقول: فضيلة الشيخ: علي دين لصديقي، انقطع الاتصال به، ولا أدري عنوانه الآن، والآن أريد أن أسدد ما علي، فما الوسيلة؟ أفيدوني جزاكم الله خيرا.
الجواب
المشروع لك أن تتصدق به عنه، والله -جل وعلا- ينفعه بذلك، وتبرأ ذمتك، ومتى جاء إليك يطلب حقه؛ خيره، فإن أمضى الصدقة؛ فهي له، وإن لم يمضها؛ كان لك أجرها، وتعطيه حقه، والحمد لله. نعم.
English translation
English rendering prepared for SalafAlSalih.com from the cited Arabic answer. Not an official translation.
Original question
A listener from Riyadh asks: Honoured Shaykh, I owe a debt to a friend with whom I have lost contact, and I no longer know his address. I now want to repay what I owe. How can I do so? Please advise me; may Allah reward you.
Answer
The prescribed course is to give the money in charity on his behalf. Allah, exalted is He, benefits him through that, and your liability is discharged. Whenever he comes to you claiming his right, give him the choice: if he approves the charity, it is on his behalf; if he does not approve it, its reward is yours and you pay him what he is owed. Praise be to Allah. Yes.
Source and editorial notes
Official Ibn Bāz website, fatwa10904
الموقع الرسمي للشيخ ابن باز
Official website of Shaykh Ibn Baz
Arabic checked against the complete displayed answer on the official Ibn Baz page. Printed locator is the website’s own reference.