What is the ruling regarding someone who wrongs a six-year-old child, then asks him for forgiveness, and the child says to him: "Tell me that you have forgiven me for what you did to me"? Is the wrongdoer thereby absolved of his wrongdoing, even though he does not understand the reason for his being wronged?

For absolution from sins related to the rights of people, it is a condition to restore injustices. If the right-holder is a minor, their absolution is not valid before they reach puberty, and the guardian manages financial rights. As for other rights, such as backbiting, there are two views, and the more probable one is to wait until they reach puberty to seek their forgiveness, and merely seeking forgiveness for them is not sufficient. It is obligatory to direct the request for forgiveness to Allah, while from people, one seeks pardon and forgiveness. Forgiveness (maghfirah) entails the remission of punishment and the bestowal of reward, and it is only valid from Allah. As for pardon (afw), it entails the remission of blame and censure and can be issued by people.