Question Summary:
Can I ask her to absolve me of my obligation towards her?

Question Detail:

Hello When I was young I borrowed cds from my friend. Then ended up moving and never returning them. Now I have found her in social media and want to message her saying “ Hello I know this is extremely random but I remember as kids , I borrowed cds from you and was supposed to give them back but then I moved and forgot all about it. In my religion , we are required to pay back any debt that we owe someone so I’m willing to pay u for the cds or if you want to pardon my debt. You can do that also “ Is she allowed to forgive me for my debt. She is non Muslim. Pls let me know what to do.

Answer :

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

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

Yes, you can ask your friend to absolve you of any financial obligations you might owe her as a result of the CDs you did not return to her.

If she forgives the debt instead of seeking payment, then you will have absolved yourself from any obligation that was due to her. ^[i][ii][iii]

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best,

Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.

________

رجل قال لآخر: حللني في كل حق لك علي، ففعل يبرأ قضاءً، وكذلك ديانة عند أبي يوسف رحمه الله تعالي [i]

خلافاً لمحمد رحمه الله تعالي وعليه الفتوى
الفتاوى السراجية، ص. ٤٠٣

رجل قال لآخر: حللني من كل حق هو لك علي، ففعل وأبرأه، إن كان صاحب الحق عالما به يبرأ حكما [ii]

وديانة، وإن لم يكن عالما به برئ به حكما بالإجماع، وأما ديانة فعند محمد لا يبرأ وعند أبي يوسف يبرأ وعليه الفتوى

خلاصة الفتاوى، ٤/ ٤٠٦

قال لآخر حللني من كل حق هو لك علي ففعل وأبرأه إن كان صاحب الحق عالما به برئ حكما وديانة، وإن [iii]

لم يكن عالما به برئ حكما بالإجماع، وأما ديانة فعند أبي يوسف - رحمه الله تعالى - يبرأ وعليه الفتوى، هكذا في الخلاصة

الفتاوى الهندية، ٤/ ٣٨١ - ٣٨٢