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Stole from his grandmother's money, what should he do?

Question

Two years ago when I was 16 I was hanging out with some people who had a negative impact on me, I was stealing from my grandmother to hang out with them because I had no money and I was embarrassed if I told them that and I was afraid that they would leave me, and the amount got bigger and bigger and bigger. Also with some of the money, I bought a phone and a charger, and now this phone is my main phone, so what should I do? Am I allowed to enjoy it until I return the money to my grandmother or ask her forgiveness? Does every time I open the mobile I get a sin? I really regret everything I did so much and will never steal anything ever again.

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

It is obligatory on you to repent to Allah for what happened to you by stealing your grandmother’s money. Repentance is by abandoning the sin, regretting the act of sin, resolving not to return to it, and returning the money to your grandmother, even without her knowledge, or asking her to forgive you and make it permissible for you.

However, you do not have to get rid of the phone that was bought with stolen money, and there is nothing wrong with you in using it, because the prohibition is attached to your liability and not to the money itself.

Allah knows best.

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