How can one rid oneself of sins related to the rights of others without directly confessing them to the wronged person?
There are two types of injustices (mazalim):
1. Material injustices: Repentance for these is achieved by returning rights to their owners, or by seeking their forgiveness and pardon. 2. Injustices related to one's honor (such as backbiting and slander): For these, it is sufficient to supplicate for the person, seek forgiveness for them, and mention them in a good light. It is not a condition to inform them or seek their absolution, because informing them might cause them harm or lead to enmity. This is supported by hadiths, narrations, and sayings of scholars like Ibn Taymiyyah and Ibn al-Qayyim, who cite the Almighty's saying: "Say, 'O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful'" and "And it is He who accepts repentance from His servants and pardons evil deeds and knows what you do."
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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