What can my child say if a friend urges them to keep lost cash? 

Parenting Perspective 

When a friend tempts your child to keep found money, it becomes a quiet but defining test of their integrity and courage. Most children know that keeping it feels wrong; what they often lack is the language and confidence to say no without losing face. Your role is to give them both: the words to uphold their honesty and the self-assurance that standing by the truth brings strength, not shame. 

This Is About Loyalty to Values 

Begin by acknowledging the social pressure. You could say, ‘I understand it is hard to refuse when a friend says, “No one will know.” But being honest is not about who is watching; it is about who you choose to be.’ Emphasise that loyalty to what is right is more important than loyalty to peer pressure. True friends will respect their honesty; others may not. 

Teach Short, Calm Response Scripts 

Children can often freeze under pressure, so it is helpful to provide them with some ready-made lines that sound natural. 

• ‘It is not ours, so we should hand it in.’ 

• ‘Someone might really need that money. Let us try to find who lost it.’ 

• ‘Keeping it would make me feel wrong inside.’ 

• ‘I am going to give it to the teacher; that is the right thing to do.’ 

Practise these phrases aloud in a playful way so that they come to mind more easily when needed. 

Teach the ‘Find, Guard, Hand In’ Rule 

Give your child a simple, three-step process to follow. 

• Find: Pick up the money so that it does not get lost again. 

• Guard: Keep it safe without spending or claiming it. 

• Hand In: Report it to the nearest responsible adult, such as a teacher, a shop assistant, or a parent. 

This helps them to act decisively without needing your direction. 

Turn the Situation Into a Source of Pride 

If your child does the right thing, celebrate their choice: ‘You did something that many adults find difficult. That shows real strength of character.’ If they hesitated or gave in to the pressure, guide them in correcting the mistake by returning the money and discussing what they have learned. The focus should always be on redemption, not guilt. 

Spiritual Insight 

Islam teaches that any property found without an owner is a trust, not an opportunity for personal gain. A true believer treats such moments as a test from Allah—a chance to prove their honesty when temptation is strong. 

A Trust, Not a Windfall 

The Quran reminds us that anything found by chance is a form of amanah—a sacred responsibility that must be discharged faithfully. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Baqarah (2), Verse 283: 

‘And if you happen to be in travel and you cannot find any author (to draft the agreement), then obtain some kind of security (deposit); and if some of you have trust with each other, then let that person discharge what is interested to him (faithfully), and let him be concerned about (the judgement of) Allah (Almighty) his Sustainer…’ 

This verse teaches that we are accountable for every trust placed in our hands. You can tell your child, ‘That money is not just lost; it has been given to you as a trust to protect until it reaches its owner. Returning it is how you show Allah that you can be trusted with even bigger blessings.’ 

Honesty as the Core of Faith 

The teachings of our Prophet ﷺ emphasise that truthfulness is not just about our words, but about our choices, especially when no one is watching. 

It is recorded in Jami Tirmidhi, Hadith 1971, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘Truthfulness leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to Paradise. A man continues to speak the truth until he is recorded with Allah as truthful.’ 

You can explain, ‘When you return lost money or refuse to keep it, you are proving to Allah that you belong among the truthful.’ 

Encourage them to make a quiet dua in such moments: ‘O Allah, please make me brave enough to do what is right, even when others do not.’ These small tests of honesty are the seeds of faith. Each time your child chooses integrity over impulse, they strengthen their shield of taqwa the calm certainty that Allah sees, rewards, and honours every act of truth.