الامام علی علیه السلام: یا کمیل إفهم واعلم أنا لا نرخص فی ترک أداء الامانة لاحد من الخلق. فمن روى عنی فی ذلک رخصة فقد أبطل وأثم وجزاؤه النار بما کذب، اقسم لسمعت رسول الله صلى الله علیه وآله یقول لی قبل وفاته بساعة مرارا ثلاثا: یا أبا الحسن أد [ اء ] الامانة إلى البر والفاجر فیما جل وقل حتى الخیط والمخیط.

Imam Ali (as): O Kumail! know and understand that we do not allow anyone to refrain from returning what he has been entrusted with. Thus, anyone who quotes permission from me in this regard is lying, has committed a sin, and his punishment is hellfire.

b God I heard the Prophet (s) say to me three times just before his departure, O Abul Hassan! Return what has been entrusted to you _ whether great or small, even a needle and thread_ to the owner, whether he is virtuous or impious, or even an infidel. (Tuhaf al -Uqul, p.175)

Exposition:

Trusteeship is very important in islam. Even if one has been entrusted with a cheap item, he must attempt to preserve it and return it to its owner _whether the owner is a believer, impious os even an infidel. However, it must be noted that trust is not just in financial matters. Rather, our responsibilities for others secrets that we know are all trusts and must be kept safe.