Question

I claimed state benefits for unemployment when I was unemployed. I then picked up some part time work cash in hand and didn’t claim this to the government. I didn’t think this was haram at the time.

Do I need to give the money back I took for unemployment ? I didn’t know it was haram or halal for me at the time

Answer

This would amount to acquiring money through lying and deception, which are major sins. The amount you are not entitled to is impermissible wealth. Thus, calculate the amount of benefits you would have received had you declared your cash-in-hand income. Thereafter, return the rest of the money back to the state.

To return this money, it is not necessary that you declare to the state that the money was taken under false pretences, and the money is being returned. The essential aspect here is that the money is returned to the state, not making them aware of the reason.[1] One can make payments to the government. Follow this link for the procedure in making donations to the government for public expenditure. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/voluntary-payments-donations-to-government.

I hope that this is sufficient

[1]              الفتاوى الهندية (5/ 154) وَإِذَا كَانَ فِي يَدِ الدَّلَّالِ ثَوْبٌ يَبِيعُهُ فَظَهَرَ أَنَّهُ مَسْرُوقٌ وَقَدْ كَانَ رَدَّهُ إلَى مَنْ دَفَعَ إلَيْهِ فَطَلَبَ مِنْهُ الْمَسْرُوقُ مِنْهُ الثَّوْبُ فَقَالَ الدَّلَّالُ رَدَدْتُهُ إلَى مَنْ كَانَ دَفَعَ إلَيَّ بَرِئَ كَذَا فِي الْمُحِيطِ.

Answered by:
Maulana Ikramul Hoque Miah

Checked & Approved by:
Mufti Abdul Rahman Mangera
Mufti Zubair Patel