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Q&A · Repentance & Sin

If I wronged someone, is repenting to Allah alone enough, or do I need to ask that person for forgiveness too?

Repentance for a sin against Allah alone — like missing a prayer — is between you and Him. But repentance for a sin against another person has an extra condition: sincere tawbah to Allah, and, wherever possible, making things right with the person you wronged. If you took their money or property, it should be returned; if you harmed their honor through slander or backbiting, you should seek their forgiveness or make amends appropriately; if you hurt them emotionally, you should ask them to pardon you. The Prophet warned starkly about the importance of this: 'Whoever has wronged his brother concerning his honor or anything else, let him seek his pardon today, before the Day comes when there will be no dinar or dirham [to compensate with]' (Sahih al-Bukhari 2449) — meaning on the Day of Judgment, wrongs are settled by transferring good deeds, not currency. This isn't meant to discourage you — it's a reminder that human relationships matter to Allah too, and clearing them now, while it's simple, is a mercy compared to settling accounts later.

References
Sahih al-Bukhari 2449
Informational, not a personal fatwa. Consult a qualified scholar for rulings on your situation.

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