A man who obtains unlawful wealth and then regrets it

Al-Zuhri (may Allah have mercy on him) said concerning a man who comes by unlawful wealth: If he would like to be rid of that wealth, let him give it up.

It is narrated from Malik bin Dinar that a man said to Ata bin Abi Rabah: "A man has come by unlawful wealth?" He said: "He should return it to its owner, and if he does not know the owner, let him give it in charity. I do not know whether doing so will remove his sin."

A man asked Ata: "I was a youth, and I obtained wealth by means that I do not approve of, and now I wish to repent." He said: "Return the wealth to its owners." He said: "I do not know them." He said: "Give it in charity. You will have no reward for it, and I do not know whether its sin will be upon you or not."

He said: I asked Mujahid about it, and he said the same.

It is narrated from al-Rabi' that a man asked Abu Ja'far (may Allah have mercy on him): "A friend of mine came by unlawful wealth, and it became mixed with everything belonging to his family and their wealth. Then he realised the foulness and evil that was in it, and he turned to Hajj and to living in the neighbourhood of this House. What is your view concerning him?" Abu Ja'far said: "He should fear Allah and not do it again."

It is narrated from al-Hasan that if someone has seized another person's wealth or stolen someone's wealth, and wishes to return it to him in such a way that he does not know (he is not made aware of it), and so he conveys it to him, there is no harm in that.