I lost a large amount of money to my friend who cheated me and disappeared for sometime. What Du'a and prayers should I perform to know his whereabouts? Should I see any pious people who can tell me where this wrongdoer is residing? Do you know if there is anybody who can help me?

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.

Know dear brother, whenever a person is closer to Allah, serious in making Du'aa’ (supplication), avoiding the prohibitions of Sharee’ah, and seeking only lawful livelihood, his supplications will most likely be responded to. Allah has opened wide the doors of Du'aa’. There are no specific or special words for making Du'aa’. Anytime one wishes, he may raise his hands towards Allah and may ask for his needs. Know that no one knows the unseen except Allah. Everyone who claims having the knowledge of the unseen is a Dajjal (impostor); thus, no one should visit him. The Prophet said: “Whoever goes to a soothsayer or a fortuneteller and believes him, he has disbelieved in what was revealed to Muhammad ()”. Fortunetellers and soothsayers cooperate with Jinn. The Jinn of a fortuneteller goes to the Jinn of the thief or other, and brings the news to the fortuneteller and informs him of where the stolen goods are. The Jinn do so to lead fortunetellers and those who go to them to Kufr (disbelief).

For more benefit on supplications, please refer to Fataawa 343300, 88282, 13277, 213715 and 377509.

Allah knows best.