I was with my relative when someone mistreated us and exchanged insults with him, leading to a fight that ended with my relative striking him hard. We feel remorse and fear that he may have been harmed. We ask how we can make amends and whether we should try to find him and apologize, despite not knowing him and the difficulty of locating him.

The ruling on reciprocating mistreatment with the like: It is permissible to reciprocate mistreatment with the like without excess, such as hitting, slapping, or insulting. However, it is not permissible to insult the parent of the one who mistreated, as they have wronged no one. Whoever exceeds in retaliation must repent. If the insult is forbidden, such as declaring someone an infidel or lying, it is not permissible to respond in kind. The basis for this is His saying, exalted be He: {So whoever transgresses against you, transgress likewise against him as he transgressed against you}.