What to do with a customer’s unclaimed items
Question
I run a shop, and occasionally customers forget to collect their parcels left at the counter. Often, they don’t return to claim them, likely because they have forgotten which shop they left them at. I store the parcels for months or even years in a storeroom, hoping they may eventually return, but most of the time, they don’t.
What should I do with the unclaimed items, which include shoes, socks, handkerchiefs, face towels, and the like? After a significant period without the items being claimed, can I donate them to needy people? I would appreciate your advice.
Answer
Efforts should be made to identify the owners of these parcels or a public notice should be displayed informing the public that parcels have been left at your establishment, hoping that the owners will come forward to collect their belongings.
If, after taking these steps, a significant period passes without the owner retrieving their items, you may donate the goods to charity, and you will not be held liable. However, should the owner return at a later date, they retain the right to:
a) Allow their possessions to be given in charity (Sadaqah), or
b) Claim compensation for the value of the items.
If the owner chooses to donate their items, they will be rewarded for this act of charity.
Conversely, if the owner opts to reclaim the value of their items, you will be required to reimburse them, while still receiving the reward for donating the items to charity. [Hindiyyah 2/289, Ahsanul Fatawa, 6/390]
And Allah Ta’ala Knows Best
Fatawa SA is an independent, read-only index of fatawa already published by Jamiatul Ulama KZN. It is not a fatwa service. For your own situation, ask the issuing Darul Ifta directly.