Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

Ibrahim says that if you owe a debt to someone and you do not know where he is or where his heirs are, then give charity on his behalf. After that, if he comes, give him the choice.

Hazrat Abdullah bin Hanish narrates that a man died and he had a debt, but the creditor did not know where he was. Hazrat Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) ordered that an amount equal to the debt should be given as charity on his behalf.

Hasan says that when someone dies and has a debt, and it is not known where his heirs are, then that debt should be spent in the way of Allah. And if he is a Muslim and it is not known where his heirs are, then charity should be given on his behalf.

Hazrat Abu Wa'il narrates that Hazrat Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) bought a slave girl for seven hundred dirhams. The payment had not yet been made when the owner of the slave girl disappeared. Hazrat Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) continued to announce about her for a year. Then he went to the mosque and began to give her price in charity, while saying, "O Allah! This is on his behalf. If he comes, it will be from me and obligatory upon me." Then he said, "Do the same with every lost or abandoned thing."