You find an envelope with the name and address of the owner in the middle of the street. It contains £20,000 in cash inside. Would you return it to it's owner and do what is right religiously and in honesty or would you pocket it? Can greed overcome your religious beliefs?
They merely:
Veiled themselves and didn't flaunt it
Sought forgiveness and didn't persist
Took ownership of it and don't justify it
And acted with excellence after they had erred - Ibn al-Qayyim
You find an envelope with the name and address of the owner in the middle of the street. It contains £20,000 in cash inside. Would you return it to it's owner and do what is right religiously and in honesty or would you pocket it? Can greed overcome your religious beliefs?
Give it back to him/her. But I wouldn't mind a reward in return.
I won't give it to the Police though because you may never know what they would do with it.
Last edited by Güven; 06-29-2009 at 11:52 PM.
Reason: grammar
And as for the onewho fears standing in front of His Lord and restrainsthe soul from impure evil desires and lusts, verily, Paradise will be his abode [79:40-41]
They merely:
Veiled themselves and didn't flaunt it
Sought forgiveness and didn't persist
Took ownership of it and don't justify it
And acted with excellence after they had erred - Ibn al-Qayyim
I would actually be more tempted to keep it if it were something less, like $5, or $10, especially if I didn't know whose it was, I'd be too lazy to find the owner. But to keep $20,000? No way on earth would I even consider it. Especially since I know who it belongs to.
And it's not just religious obligation that has me saying that, it's also moral responsibility. Do unto others as you as you would have others do unto you.
Oh, and in response to "Can greed overcome your religious beliefs?", I'd say it depends on how strong your religious beliefs are.
Last edited by crayon; 06-29-2009 at 11:53 PM.
Reason: added
I wouldn't keep it even if it's one dollar. What isn't mine....isn't mine, plain and simple. I dont even spend my Eid money on myself nor expect money from my parents for anything, so there's no way am i going to keep money that belongs to someone else.
Actually if it has the persons name and address, I'd be happy coz then I could return it.
Imagine they put the envelope there on purpose just to see what people do...with no actual cash inside lol.
Can greed overcome your religious beliefs?
yes it could....depending on your level of morality and religious conviction..
Last edited by Nσσя'υℓ Jαииαн; 06-30-2009 at 12:05 AM.
*Without Allah, without Islam, life would be meaningless. If I've ever learned patience, it's because of this. Alhamdulillah...*
I am not religious but I'm very God conscious. I would choose to return it personally to the owner and not hand it to the police station. I'd love to be handed £20,000 but if I found it, to me it would only be temporary satisfaction. Once it's spent I would feel alot of guilt. Shame of myself and guilty to those that owned what I spent. I believe we are being watched at all times.
I have done good deeds in my life that have made me proud of my actions. These deeds would have pocketed me cash but I've chosed to turn away from greed. As I said, I believe we're being watched.
I think what might be more of a moral dilemma is if you were suffering some really tough times and found the money. At that point the temptation to just take it is greater. InshaAllah we would do what is right despite personal problems..
"...You are my Walî in this world and in the Hereafter. Cause me to die as a Muslim, and join me with the righteous." [Surah Yusuf 101]
I would agree with one of the above, I'd be more tempted to keep it if it were a smaller bill such as a 5 or a 10. Though, someone asked me the other day... what do you do if you find a small amount of money, like a $5 or a $10 on the ground? You can't find the owner. =/
Yeah, even going beyond religious belief,it is basic human morality.
I would firstly think how lovely it would be for someone to return it, had i been the one who lost the 20k cash. If you put yourself in others' shoes, it is easier to make the decision.
But if i find small amounts. I would put it into the charity box when i go to the mosque.
if i find smaller amounts, i wouldn't even pick it up. let the true owner come & get it; he/she may be looking for it. If someone other than the true owner takes it, the sin would be theirs, but at least i wouldn't have a problem trying to find out what to do with it.
Last edited by Muhaba; 06-30-2009 at 05:27 AM.
Reason: addition
I would hand it in to the police, and let them deal with returning it to the owner.
(They may also wish to check why anybody would carry such huge amounts of cash in a plain envelope ...)
Peace glo
Here I stand.
I can do no other.
May God help me.
Amen.
Come, let us worship and bow down •
and kneel before the Lord our Maker
[Psalm 95]
I would hand it in to the police, and let them deal with returning it to the owner.
(They may also wish to check why anybody would carry such huge amounts of cash in a plain envelope ...)
Good point. Such an amount is likely to be 'dodgy' in some way. You might just be 'returning' it to the person that stole it.
Hey there! Looks like you're enjoying the discussion, but you're not signed up for an account.
When you create an account, we remember exactly what you've read, so you always come right back where you left off. You also get notifications, here and via email, whenever new posts are made. And you can like posts and share your thoughts.
Sign Up
Bookmarks