What is the ruling on someone who has wronged others—such as a ruler oppressing his subjects—and repents before death, but is unable to clear his conscience, and what should someone do who cannot fulfill these rights or does not know their owners and wishes to repent?

Among the conditions for repentance from oppressing people is to free oneself from their claims either by returning what was wrongfully taken or by seeking their forgiveness. For whoever dies owing a right to a creature, recompense will be taken from him on the Day of Judgment. As for him who is unable to return rights because he does not know their owners, he should give charity on their behalf. But if he knows them and is unable to return their rights, he must ask them for forgiveness.