Question:
Assalamualaikum,
I have a house maid (she’s a poor widow) who has just worked at my house for a week. I decided to accept her as a housemaid because she really needs money. She works Monday-Saturday for an hour only to make cleaning and ironing. This morning, I found out that she stole my money. There was a neighbour who saw her opening my bag and took out something from it. When finally I checked, yes, I found out that my bag has been opened by someone and I found out that I lost a bit of my money.
What should I do? I don’t want to keep her as a housemaid but in the other way I know she did that because she really needs money.
Wassalamualaikum…
Answer:
wa `alaykum salam,
If the theft is done out of necessity and if the offender was not motivated by habitual theft and the crime is not very serious then it can be forgiven after one admits guilt and ask for forgiveness.
Imam Senad Agic
Head Imam (IABNA)
The Islamic Association of Bosniaks in North America
American Islamic Center – Chicago
