Reclaiming a financial right
Question
Six years ago I gave my brother-in-law 1000 EGP to buy a gold chain, which he never did. He now wants to return 1000 EGP to me. Please note that he used this sum to conduct business and in fact gained a profit from it. Is this legally permissible?
Answer
If the case is as mentioned in the question, it is obligatory upon the inquirer's brother-in-law to do either of the following:
- Give the inquirer the amount of gold that could have been purchased by 1000 EGP six years ago; or,
- give the inquirer the equivalent sum of the gold according to the current price.
And God Almighty knows best.