Q: I was the commanding officer on a shift and we had some detainees for whom we bring food from a restaurant near the police station. One night, I sent a soldier about 9 P.M. To bring food for the detainees from the restaurant, but he returned without anything. He told me that the workers refused to open the door for him and kept making fun of him behind the glass. I sent a civilian man to confirm the situation and the same thing happened to him. I got upset and went to the restaurant and asked the worker to open the door. They did not open it until they saw that I was going to break it. I beat every one of the workers once or twice with a club because they made fun of (Part No. 26; Page No. 119) the soldiers. It should be noted that this restaurant is the only one available near the police station where the detainees are held. Later on, I feared that Allah might punish me for what I did and I looked for them everywhere to ask their forgiveness and give them whatever money they wanted, but I found that they traveled back to their countries. I repented to Allah and promised not to beat anybody again except in self-defense, or in defense of my family or my property. I did not beat the workers to avenge myself, I beat them because they made fun of the security men without justification. Did I incur sin? Will my repentance be accepted, knowing that it is difficult to find or meet them? May Allah reward you best!