Quitting Sin.
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The Shaykh : Quitting the sin means that a person abandons the sin. If he is currently engaged in it, and if the repentance is for leaving an obligatory act, he must perform the obligatory act. If the repentance is for committing a forbidden act, he must abandon the forbidden act. And if the repentance is for the rights of people, he must return those rights to them.
Here we ask: A man used to steal when he was young, and now he has recognized the truth and wants to repent. He has repented to Allah, felt remorse, and sought Allah's forgiveness. But regarding the money he stole, what should he do with it? We say he must deliver it to its owners. But how does he tell the owners? He says, "I stole from you when I was young, and this is your money." This is a problem; he may get into trouble. So what is the solution? We say there is a solution. He can send it to them by mail and write, "These are your coins from a person." There is no need for him to identify himself or contact a person he trusts who is the owner of the stolen item and say, "He stole from so-and-so, and I hope you will deliver these coins to him." Now, if he does not know the person from whom he stole—suppose he does not know the victim—we say he should give it in charity on their behalf, and Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, knows this.
Now, a third issue: He says, "I know the owner of the money, but I do not know the amount. I do not know if it is a thousand or a hundred." We say, be cautious for yourself; take the precaution. You are only required to pay the minimum, but if you pay the maximum, it is safer.
Here we ask: A man used to steal when he was young, and now he has recognized the truth and wants to repent. He has repented to Allah, felt remorse, and sought Allah's forgiveness. But regarding the money he stole, what should he do with it? We say he must deliver it to its owners. But how does he tell the owners? He says, "I stole from you when I was young, and this is your money." This is a problem; he may get into trouble. So what is the solution? We say there is a solution. He can send it to them by mail and write, "These are your coins from a person." There is no need for him to identify himself or contact a person he trusts who is the owner of the stolen item and say, "He stole from so-and-so, and I hope you will deliver these coins to him." Now, if he does not know the person from whom he stole—suppose he does not know the victim—we say he should give it in charity on their behalf, and Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, knows this.
Now, a third issue: He says, "I know the owner of the money, but I do not know the amount. I do not know if it is a thousand or a hundred." We say, be cautious for yourself; take the precaution. You are only required to pay the minimum, but if you pay the maximum, it is safer.