I took part in a murder, but I was not caught for this crime. I want to expiate for my sin. Will Allaah accept my repentance without me having to hand myself in to the police?
Praise be to
Allaah.
Murder
(killing a person deliberately), if the victim is a believer, is one
of the greatest of major sins, because Allaah says (interpretation of
the meaning):
“And whoever kills a believer intentionally,
his recompense is Hell to abide therein; and the Wrath and the Curse
of Allaah are upon him, and a great punishment is prepared for him”
[al-Nisaa’
493]
And
it was narrated that the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
“A
man will continue to be sound in his religion so long as he does not
shed blood which it is forbidden to shed.”
If
you killed a believer deliberately, then there are three rights which
are connected to that: the rights of Allaah, the rights of the victim
and the rights of the victim’s next of kin.
With
regard to the rights of Allaah: if you repent sincerely to your Lord,
then Allaah will accept your repentance, because He says (interpretation
of the meaning):
“Say: “O ‘Ibaadi (My slaves) who have transgressed
against themselves (by committing evil deeds and sins)! Despair not
of the Mercy of Allaah, verily, Allaah forgives all sins. Truly, He
is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful” [al-Zumar 39:53]
With regard to the
rights of the victim, he is not alive so you cannot put things right
with him. The matter has to wait until the Day of Resurrection, i.e.,
the settling of scores with you on behalf of the victim will take place
on the Day of Resurrection. But I hope that if your repentance is correct
and is accepted by Allaah, then Allaah will compensate the victim with
what He wills of His bounty until he is satisfied, and you will be reprieved.
With regard to the
rights of the victim’s next of kin, which is the third right, you cannot
be absolved of this until you hand yourself over to them. Therefore
you have to hand yourself over to the victim’s next of kin, and tell
them that you are the one who killed him, then they have the choice.
If they want to they can exact vengeance upon you, if the conditions
of qasaas are met; or if they want to they may take the diyah (blood
money) from you; or if they want to they can forgive you.
