Using fake id to steal banks' money Fatwa No: 90179
- Fatwa Date:15-6-2005
Thanks for answering my previous question: 146775, although I didn't mean to ask about the act of taking loans and Ribaa per say, but I learned from your reply which was very useful. To be precise, I will reframe my question:
Some Muslims open accounts in European banks with fake names with the intention of stealing that banks money claiming that the insurance company will pay the bank back, the claim that it is Halaal because they are in state of war with these countries and they claim it is allowed with banks but not with individuals, they do that in different ways. Besides what is the definition of being in war with a country? Kindly reply to my question and give me the Daleel.
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.
The behaviour of a Muslim should be that of truthfulness and faithfulness and not that of cheating and deceiving. Indeed, a Muslim should be an example that people would imitate in relation to his good behaviour and honest dealings so that he would reflect the bright image of Islam and the Muslims.
The jurists stated that if a Muslim enters a country of war with a safety contract, it is forbidden for him to transgress against their blood, money or honour as a sign that he is being loyal to the pact between him and them as Allaah Says (what means): {…[those who] fulfil their promise when they promise…}[Quran 2:177] Moreover, the Prophet said: "Muslims should honour their conditions." [Abu Daawood]
What the jurists stated applies to a country of war without a difference of opinion, whose people might be in a real war with Muslims. So what about a country which we cannot say for sure is a country of war; rather, it is nothing more than a non-Muslim country and this does not necessarily render it a country of war?
If what the jurists said is in relation to a person who enters a country of war with a peace treaty, and it could be that he enters it for a limited period, so what about the one who is residing in it, or has even obtained its citizenship and is enjoying its advantages and welfare?
A person who wants to behave in such an irresponsible way should ask himself: "What benefit or what victory have the Muslims achieved by me behaving in this manner? Reality proves that they have achieved nothing but more embargo and pressure.
Finally, we advise these people to fear Allaah in themselves and in their Muslim brothers, and they have to repent to Allaah. In order to repent from this sin, they have to give back the money to its owners even in an indirect way.
Ibn Qudaamah said: "If a person had cheated them or stolen them or borrowed some money from them, he is obliged to give back to their owners what he had taken."
Moreover, we advise anyone who knows those who behave in such a manner to advise them and remind them of Allaah, and warn other Muslims against them.
Allaah Knows best.