Q: I have a bad record of sins such as abandonment of Salah (Prayer) and disobedience to Allah. I have wronged (Part No. 24; Page No. 332) a lot of people and usurped their rights. Three years ago I turned to Allah in repentance of such sins. I no longer commit such sins. All praise be to Allah that I now establish Salah at their due times, but my conscience causes me to feel worried and uneasy all the time. Such a state results from my feeling that I usurped some people's rights even though they were few. I want to find a way to pay back the rights of those people. I have actually given some of my money in charity, but I have not got enough money to pay back all such rights. I would like to turn to Allah in repentance for usurping people's rights and expiate for what I have done. Also, I want to prevent myself from usurping others' rights and committing such dirty acts as much as possible. Therefore, I ask Your Eminence to send me a written document explaining these points to my address written on the envelope. May Allah bless you for it!

A: First: We ask Allah (Glorified be He) to accept your repentance and substitute your virtues for your vices, as Allah (Exalted be He) says, And verily, I am indeed forgiving to him who repents, believes (in My Oneness, and associates none in worship with Me) and does righteous good deeds, and then remains constant in doing them, (till his death). Allah also says, And those who invoke not any other ilâh (god) along with Allâh, nor kill such person as Allâh has forbidden, except for just cause, nor commit illegal sexual intercourse - and whoever does this shall receive the punishment. The torment will be doubled to him on the Day of Resurrection, and he will abide therein in disgrace; Except those who repent and believe (in Islâmic Monotheism), and do righteous deeds; for those, Allâh will change their sins into good deeds, and Allâh is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (Part No. 24; Page No. 333)  Second: As for the question of the money you gained illegally, you can turn to Allah in repentance if such money is not owned by a particular person. If this money is owned by a particular person, you have to repay the money to this person or ask them to forgive you. With regard to the money whose owners you do not know, you can give it as charity with the intention of granting the reward of such charity to the owners of the money.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.