What is the liability of the stolen item ?

Question:

I was asked the following questions.

If a thief steals an item of high sentimental value like a family heirloom and

destroys it, would he be liable for compensation beyond the market value to

make up for the loss of the sentimental value?

What about a case of theft of a rental item causing potential profit to be lost. Is

the thief liable for that loss of profits?

Answer:

ﺑﺴﻢ اﷲ اﻟﺮﺣﻤﻦ اﻟﺮﺣﯿﻢ

Regarding the liability of the stolen item, there are a few principles that one

should keep in mind:

1) If the item which was stolen still exists, then it would be obligatory to return that very item to its owner.

2) If the item was destroyed and it’s equivalent (that which is identical to it) is available, then one should offer that similar item to the one from whom the item was stolen; e.g. a person stole a chair whose match is available in stores. The chair which stole was destroyed, hence he compensates the owner by purchasing a new chair and giving it to him.

3) If the item was destroyed and its equivalent is unavailable in the market, then it’s market value, at the time of the theft, shall be given to the owner of the stolen item.

On the basis thereof, it would not be necessary for you to pay more than the market value, however, you may do so of your own free will. It is advised that you seek pardon from the family and express your remorse over their loss. Try to make amends for the adverse, emotional effects that ensued from the theft, by any means possible.

only be liable for the stolen rental item

Regarding your second question, the thief will (based upon the above-mentioned principles), and not the loss of profits.

ردﺎﺼﻤﻟا

ﺔﯿﺘﯾﻮﻜﻟا ﺔﯿﻬﻘﻔﻟا ﺔﻋﻮﺳﻮﻤﻟا

نﺎﻨﺒﻟ ،توﺮﯿﺑ - ﺔﯿﻤﻠﻌﻟا ﺐﺘﻜﻟا راد :ﺮﺷﺎﻨﻟا ؛ﺔﯾاﺪﻬﻟا حﺮﺷ ﺔﯾﺎﻨﺒﻟا

توﺮﯿﺑ-ﺮﻜﻔﻟا راد :ﺮﺷﺎﻨﻟا ؛رﺎﺘﺨﻤﻟا رﺪﻟا ﻰﻠﻋ رﺎﺘﺤﻤﻟا در

ﺮﻜﻔﻟا راد :ﺮﺷﺎﻨﻟا ؛ﺔﯾاﺪﻬﻟا حﺮﺷ ﺔﯾﺎﻨﻌﻟا

ﺮﻜﻔﻟا راد :ﺮﺷﺎﻨﻟا ؛ﺔﯾﺪﻨﻬﻟا ىوﺎﺘﻔﻟا

And Allah ﻰﻟﺎﻌﺗ knows best

Written by Shaykh Mohammad Ahsan Osmani