Assalamu alaykum wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuhu. I have some possessions belonging to a person. This person ran away from her husband, committed apostasy, and asked for a divorce. Her ex-husband gave me some of her personal objects. She asked me for her things, but she did not give me an address nor the money needed for the postal service (which is very expensive because she lives in the other country). Some time later, she deleted me and blocked me from contacting her. When I found her again, I wrote to her, but she threatened me. Due to this, I did not write to her again. So what is the ruling about her possessions? What can I do? Is it halal that I hold her things? May Allaah reward you.

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.

Some scholars stated that if a Muslim apostates, then his wealth should be kept with a trustworthy Muslim; if he repents, then his wealth is given back to him, and if he dies without repenting, then his wealth becomes a booty and it should be spent in the general welfare of the Muslims.

Ibn Qudaamah said in Al-Mughni, “The wealth of an apostate is taken and kept with a trustworthy Muslim.”

On the other hand, the author of At-Taaj wal-Ikleel, quoting Ibn Al-Qaasim, said, “The (Muslim) ruler seizes the wealth of the apostate before he is killed – quoted from Ibn ‘Arafah – and it is known that if he repents, his wealth is returned to him.” In another context, he said, “But if he dies or is killed as an apostate, then his wealth is a booty.”

This is what the scholars said about the apostate, and there are differences of opinion regarding the details of the rulings on the wealth of an apostate.

Regarding the possessions of that woman, in our view, it is better that you consult some reliable and trustworthy Islamic institutions in your country about them.

Allaah knows best.