Fatwa

Dishonest bus conductor

Question

Assalamu alaikum warahmatullah,
Today, I took a city bus from place A to C. It was my first time in that bus, so I wasn’t much familiar with that bus service. The conductor took 50 INR from me without generating a receipt. When I asked for the receipt, he initially asked me to let go of it, and I sensed that he planned to keep the fare in his pocket(*stealing the money from the bus company). After asking him for 2 more times, he finally gave me a receipt when I was near the destination, but he had altered the details. I had boarded at place A, where the fare was 52 INR, but he marked the starting point as place B, 2 km ahead, showing a 10 INR lower fare. It allowed him to keep the 8 INR in his pocket(*he had asked for 50 INR from me). I couldn’t argue as I felt hesitant, shocked and my destination was near. So, do I owe the bus company the missing 10 INR as I have used their service from place A to C?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

It was correct of you to ask for a receipt. In the enquired situation, you did the best you could do. Perhaps for the future, you can insist on a receipt from the onset ensuring correct details. In any case, the bus conductor is liable for theft and fraud.

To alleviate your conscience, you may give in sadaqah the difference you think you owe the company.

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Mufti Bilal Pandor

Concurred by
Mufti Muhammad Patel

Darul Iftaa Mahmudiyyah
Lusaka, Zambia

www.daruliftaazambia.com