A Ruling Concerning Bequest
The ruling on bequeathing wealth that does not belong to a person but rather is a loan, and he makes a bequest to absolve himself of its liability:
① You must strive to find the rightful owner of this wealth and inquire about him from those whom you think might have information about him.
② If after exhaustive searching and utmost effort you fail to locate him and have no knowledge of his whereabouts, then you may give this wealth in charity with the intention of reward for him.
③ However, if he later comes and demands his right, then you must repay his rightful amount to him, and what you had given in charity will be considered as charity from your side.
④ If you know of any of his close relatives or family members who will deliver it to him, then you may give it to them to be passed on to him.
⑤ If you know that he has died, then give this wealth to his heirs.
⑥ If none of these options are possible and you do not know anything about him, then give it in charity on his behalf with the intention of reward for him.
⑦ If he comes back afterward, it remains your obligation to return his right, and what you had given in charity will be counted for you.
[al-Fawzan: al-Muntaqaa: 107]
