My friend cheated me of a huge sum of money by saying it is investment. Now he has disappeared. Will he be punished by Allah? Will I get back my money? Is there any prayers or Dua' which you can recommend for me to do to get my money?

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 is His slave and Messenger.

No doubt, that whoever takes other people's property in a legal way, but with the intention of not returning it commits a sin and deserves to be punished in this life and the Hereafter. Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Prophet said: “Whoever takes people's money while wanting to repay, Allah would help him to repay, and whoever takes people's money while wanting to spoil them, then Allah will spoil him (i.e. spoil his wealth and punish him in the hereafter).”  [Al-Bukhari]

Ibn Hajar said:

“The saying of the Prophet : “Allah will spoil him”; means that a destruction will befall him in this life by inflicting his own self and property. This prophecy is experienced in our daily life. Some scholars also believe that what is meant by “spoil” is the punishment in the Hereafter.”

The Prophet also said: “The procrastination (delay) in repaying debts by a wealthy man is an injustice that makes his honor unprotected and his punishment permissible.”

The procrastinator can be jailed for refusing to pay back his loan.

So, dear brother, we advise you to try to get your money back even through the court. Do not give up your right. You can file a complaint against him.

As for the supplication that you could say or the prayer that you could perform to help get your money back, know that the Prophet used to resort to the prayer whenever something saddened him.

Huthayfah narrated that the Prophet used to hasten to praying whenever something saddened him. [Muslim]

Besides, Ibn ‘Abbaas narrated that the Prophet used to say:

“La ilaaha illa Allah Al-‘Atheem Al-Haleem; la ilaaha illa Allah rabbul-‘Arshi Al-‘Atheem, la ilaaha illa Allah rabbu-Samaawaati wa rabbu Al-Ardhi wa rabbul-‘Arsh Al-Kareem (which means: “None has the right to be worshipped except Allah, the Great, the Forbearing; None has the right to be worshipped except Allah, the Lord of the Great Throne, None has the right to be worshipped except Allah, the Lord of the heavens and the Lord of the earth, and the Lord of the Noble Throne.) [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

This is the supplication of distress and anguish.

At-Tabari said: “The righteous predecessors used to say this supplication whenever something agonized them.” [End of quote]

So, we advise you to pray and say this supplication and we hope that Allah will ease your matters.

For more benefit, please refer to Fataawa 377509, 343300, and 88282.

Allah knows best.