Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
I am asking about paying back a Cable Company I ripped off. I am not sure what the company was, but am reasonably sure. Do I pay back the company I am reasonably sure of?
Walaikum assalam,
The fiqhi maxim is that, "When certainty is not possible, one resorts to reasonable surety."
The fuqaha mention, however, that for it to be of consequence, reasonable surety (ghalabat al-dhann) needs evidence. This evidence is usually one of three matters:
Take all reasonable means to find out which cable company it was. Ask the person who was paying the bills at the time in your household. (Of course, it would be wrong to tell them why you are asking.)
After you have done this, pay the company that your are reasonably sure you owe money to. If they refuse to take it, just confirm that they absolve you of the debt, and your debt is cleared.
Wassalam,
Faraz Rabbani.
MMVIII © Faraz Rabbani and Qibla.
All rights reserved
No part of this article may be reproduced, displayed, modified, or distributed without the express prior written permission of both copyright holders. For permission, please submit a request at our Helpdesk.
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, "Knowledge is only through study." While some knowledge can be gained from reading or casually listening to lectures, the best means to gain knowledge is through finding a qualified teacher and then setting up a systematic program of learning. Picking up a book or reading an article and trying to figure things out on our own is no substitute for learning from someone who has a direct link to our living tradition.
Through joining an online class at Qibla, you can benefit from convenient, online courses that will give you access to reliable scholars and our popular curriculum learning tracks. Knowledge gained in these courses will both build your iman and assist you in putting into practice what you learn. Don't give yourself less than you deserve, register today.
