Paying back money owed to people

Q: I'm going to be as precise as possible. We are all humans, but I'm a Muslim too. From childhood I may have taken/borrowed someone's money and never returned it back. Like I ask Mom to give me 100 I'll pay u back, but I don't, or I go to a store and the bill is 12 rupees and I pay 10, I say I'll pay u 2 more next time but then I don't coz I literally forget. I mean I even stole money from my mom n dad a few times, it caused fights but I never got caught. But now as I know that I'm mature enough and I repent what I did intentionally or unintentionally I want to pay back every single person I stole money from or borrowed it or just forgot to pay back. The problem is I have 0 to no clue that how much money I actually owe and to whom. Please help me. I give donations and stuff in the name of Allah but I still fear I might still owe people. I'm fully aware that my sharing this question with you is making you a witness of my sins but please don't judge, I'm only trying to seek help and Allah's Forgiveness. What should I do?

A: Estimate the amount and if you have no clue of the person then give the estimated amount in sadaqah on behalf of the person you had cheated and owe.

And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.

 

Answered by:

Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)