Wa alaykum as salaam wa rahma!
Thank you for your question! Sincere repentance is in the heart and may manifest itself outwardly. Sayyid Imam al-Qasim Rassi, upon him be peace, divides repentance into two categories: repentance regarding the rights of Allah and repentance regarding the rights of creation. As for the repentance regarding the rights of Allah, the imam says after mentioning the major sins
One should repent from all of that, having regret for what was done in the past. One must also seek forgiveness in the heart and tongue without persisting in such acts and with the firm determination that they would never return to such sins—whether a little or a lot.
As for repentance regarding the right of creation, the imam says:
It is preferable to us that one looks at what has injured a Muslim or a contractually-protected person. He must seek to rectify it, seek pardon for it and seek his acceptance. This applies to every sin that took place between the slave and the Muslims as well as contractually-protected people. This includes theft, usury regarding their wealth, taking their wealth without right as a felony, unlawful seizure, inflicting harm to their bodies by things like manslaughter and wounding them due to excessive beatings.If that were to take place, compensation is to be paid if [the offender] is able and has money. If he doesn’t have money, he owes them a debt. Such person must have the firm determination to give it to them once he can or give it to their offspring if they died.He must have regret for having taken and unlawfully seized it. He must seek forgiveness from Allah and take upon himself the promise that he will never do it again. Repentance alone is not sufficient for taking something; one must return what one unlawfully seized. If they [i.e. the victims] were to waive such from him out of the kindness of their hearts, this would be religiously permissible. However, this is only after their right has been established with the kindest of faces.
Hopefully, this addresses your question.
And Allah knows best!
IRS
