FatwaNegeri SembilanTransactions & Finance
Harta luqatah
What is the status of unclaimed belongings of patients with no heirs and no owner records, such as phones, watches, jewellery and wallets, and how should they be handled?
Short answer
These items are classed as luqatah, not inheritance. The status is the same for Muslim, non-Muslim and non-citizen patients.
A reference, not a fatwa. First sentence of the summary below — read the original fatwa and consult your state authority before acting.
- Authority
- Negeri Sembilan Mufti Department
- Status
- Opinion (irsyad)
- Series
- Soal Jawab Agama
- Topic
- Transactions & Finance
No evidence of gazettement in the source — this is not a gazetted fatwa.
Summary
These items are classed as luqatah, not inheritance. The status is the same for Muslim, non-Muslim and non-citizen patients. Valuable items such as money and gold must be publicly announced for a full year, and if no valid claimant appears they become the finder's right, but must be compensated if the true owner appears later. Items of little or no value may be used without announcement, but only for benefit and not ownership, and compensation is due if the owner later claims them.
Written in our own words from the original fatwa — check the source before acting on it.
Jika barang tersebut merupakan sesuatu yang tidak terlalu berharga dimana si pemilik yang kehilangan tersebut tidak terlalu mempedulikannya atau tidak sedih atas kehilangan sesuatu tersebut
Read the full fatwa on the Negeri Sembilan website (new tab)
How to cite
Cite the original fatwa and its authority. Rujuk Fatwa is only where you found it.
Negeri Sembilan Mufti Department. “Harta luqatah”, date not stated. https://muftins.gov.my/soaljawab/harta-luqatah/. Found via Rujuk Fatwa: https://rujukfatwa.com/en/fatwa/status-of-luqatah-property-unclaimed-patients/