He crashed into cars without paying for the damage Fatwa No: 225571
- Fatwa Date:5-11-2013
asalamulaikum when i was a new driver i smashed into someones parked and destroyed it, no one was in there car, but the persons car probably had to be written off . and a few times i scratched peoples car with my car and didnt own. if i own up now i would be banned as its too late i still drive now and sometimes to the mosque or too help my mum with shopping. also in uk you have to have car insurance. i want to know am i sinning by continuing driving and mainly i want to know that because i use it to go to the mosque is my salat valid if i use it to get to the mosque
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. First of all, you have to repent from evading paying compensation for what you damaged. This is by regretting what you have done and being determined not to do that again in the future.
Also, you are obliged to pay for the damage that you caused to those cars; this can be determined by specialists in the field. So, you have to seek out the owners of those cars to pay them for the damage that you caused to their cars or ask them to forgive you. If you cannot find them, you have to give in charity an amount of money equivalent to the damage caused to their cars, intending that the divine reward be for them. You should pay this amount to the poor and destitute. For more benefit, please refer to Fatwa 90108.
As regards continuing to drive the car, there is no harm in doing so if you can drive well now, and it is permissible for you to use it when going to the mosque or for any other purpose, and your prayer is valid as long as you fulfill its conditions and pillars.
Allaah Knows best.