Repentance After Stealing

Walekumussalam,

If a person made this kind of mistake in the past—taking people’s things without permission or losing them—then they should sincerely repent to Allah and feel true regret for what they did. The door of repentance is always open, and if someone repents sincerely, Allah is very Forgiving and Merciful.

However, since this matter involves the rights of other people, the basic rule is that the item should be returned to its owner, or its value should be paid. If returning the exact item is not possible, one should try to pay its price or ask the owner for forgiveness.

If it is truly not possible to return the item or reach the owner anymore, then the person should sincerely repent to Allah and firmly decide not to repeat this action in the future. It is hoped that Allah will accept their repentance. It is also better to give charity on behalf of those people whose items were lost, as a way of making up for their rights.