If the sin involves the rights of another person then what form should repentance take?
Praise be to Allah
The basis for the answer is the hadeeth of the Prophet (peace and blessings
of Allah be upon him) who said: “He upon whom his brother has a right, be it
of the nature of money or honor, let him compensate for it before he is made
to compensate for it on a day when there will be neither dinar nor dirham to
deal with. Instead, if he has a good deed in his account it will be taken
away from him and given to the person he had wronged. And if he has no good
deeds in his account, sins of the other person will be taken from him and
added to his account” (al-Bukhari). Accordingly, the repentant can escape
the questioning only by either giving back to the people wronged their due
or seeking their forgiveness. If they forgive, he need not worry, but if
they do not, then he must return their dues.
And Allah knows best.
