The Obligation of Repentance and Exoneration from the Rights of People
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Q: I was ignorant! And Allah has bestowed upon me the gift of Islam. Before that, I had committed some injustices and errors. I heard a hadith from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) in which he says: and so on. How do you advise me in this situation?
A: Allah has prescribed for His servants repentance from all sins. Allah the Exalted said: [Surat al-Nur: 31], and Allah the Exalted said: [Surat al-Tahrim: 8], and He the Glorious and Majestic said: [Surat Ta-Ha: 82]. And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sunan Ibn Majah 4250Da’if (Darussalam).
So whoever commits any of the sins, he must hasten to repent, feel remorse, cease the sin, be cautious, and make a sincere resolve not to return to it; out of reverence for Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), sincerity to Him, and fear of His punishment. And Allah accepts the repentance of those who repent. So if one is sincere in turning to Allah , feels remorse for what has passed, makes a sincere resolve not to return to it, and ceases from it out of reverence for Allah and fear of Him, then Allah will accept his repentance and erase from him the sins that have passed; by His grace and kindness . But if the sin is an injustice against the servants of Allah, this requires the fulfillment of the right. He must repent from what occurred through remorse, cessation, and the resolve not to return to it. And along with that, he must fulfill the right for those who are entitled to it, or obtain their exoneration from it. For example, he might say to the owner of the right, "Forgive me, my brother," or "Pardon me," or he might give him his right. This is based on the hadith you referred to, which is the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):, narrated by al-Bukhari in his Sahih.
It is obligatory for the believer to strive to be free and safe from the right of his brother, by returning it to him or obtaining his exoneration from it. And if it concerns his honor, he must also obtain his exoneration from it if he is able. If he is not able, or if he fears the consequences of it, such that informing him would lead to greater evil, then he should seek forgiveness for him, make du'a for him, and mention the good qualities he knows about him, instead of the bad things he mentioned about him in the gatherings where he backbit him; so that the later good deeds wash away the earlier bad deeds, in opposition to the bad things he previously spread. He should seek forgiveness for him and make du'a for him. And success is from Allah.
Whoever has an injustice against his brother in his honor or in anything else, let him obtain his exoneration from it today, before there is no dinar or dirham.
من كانت عنده مظلمة لأخيه في عرض أو في أي شيء فليتحلله منه اليوم، قبل ألا يكون دينار ولا درهمA: Allah has prescribed for His servants repentance from all sins. Allah the Exalted said:
And turn to Allah in repentance, all of you, O believers, that you might succeed.
وَتُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا أَيُّهَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَO you who have believed, repent to Allah with sincere repentance.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا تُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ تَوْبَةً نَصُوحًاBut indeed, I am the Perpetual Forgiver of whoever repents and believes and does righteousness and then continues in guidance.
وَإِنِّي لَغَفَّارٌ لِمَنْ تَابَ وَآمَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحًا ثُمَّ اهْتَدَىThe one who repents from sin is like one who did not sin.
التائب من الذنب كمن لا ذنب لهSo whoever commits any of the sins, he must hasten to repent, feel remorse, cease the sin, be cautious, and make a sincere resolve not to return to it; out of reverence for Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), sincerity to Him, and fear of His punishment. And Allah accepts the repentance of those who repent. So if one is sincere in turning to Allah , feels remorse for what has passed, makes a sincere resolve not to return to it, and ceases from it out of reverence for Allah and fear of Him, then Allah will accept his repentance and erase from him the sins that have passed; by His grace and kindness . But if the sin is an injustice against the servants of Allah, this requires the fulfillment of the right. He must repent from what occurred through remorse, cessation, and the resolve not to return to it. And along with that, he must fulfill the right for those who are entitled to it, or obtain their exoneration from it. For example, he might say to the owner of the right, "Forgive me, my brother," or "Pardon me," or he might give him his right. This is based on the hadith you referred to, which is the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
Whoever has an injustice against his brother, let him obtain his exoneration from it today, before there is no dinar or dirham. If he has good deeds, they will be taken from his good deeds in proportion to his injustice. If he has no good deeds, the bad deeds of his brother will be taken and placed upon him.
من كانت عنده لأخيه مظلمة فليتحلله اليوم قبل ألا يكون دينار ولا درهم، إن كان له عمل صالح أخذ من حسناته بقدر مظلمته، فإن لم يكن له حسنات أخذ من سيئات صاحبه فحمل عليهIt is obligatory for the believer to strive to be free and safe from the right of his brother, by returning it to him or obtaining his exoneration from it. And if it concerns his honor, he must also obtain his exoneration from it if he is able. If he is not able, or if he fears the consequences of it, such that informing him would lead to greater evil, then he should seek forgiveness for him, make du'a for him, and mention the good qualities he knows about him, instead of the bad things he mentioned about him in the gatherings where he backbit him; so that the later good deeds wash away the earlier bad deeds, in opposition to the bad things he previously spread. He should seek forgiveness for him and make du'a for him. And success is from Allah.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.