Ihyaaud Deen An Effort to Revive Deen in Totality
Hazrat Moulana Ashraf Ali Thaanwi (rahimahullah) once mentioned the following:
If one causes pain or inconvenience to any person, then this sin is such that if the person you had harmed forgives you, then through him forgiving you, you will be forgiven by Allah Ta‘ala for the wrong which you had caused him.
However, it should be remembered that just as this sin relates to Huqooq-ul-Ibaad (the rights of the servants), there is also the Haq (right) of Allah Ta‘ala associated with it. For example, Allah Ta‘ala says in the Qur’aan Majeed “لا تظلموا” – do not oppress people. (Hence, through oppressing any person, you have violated the rights of the servant, but you have also broken this command of Allah Ta‘ala). Therefore, together with seeking forgiveness from the person you oppressed, you should also make taubah for breaking this command of Allah Ta‘ala which prohibits us from oppressing any person at any time.
Another point which should be understood is that taubah should be made in secret for sins carried out in secret, and taubah should be made openly for sins carried out among people. Hence, if one had insulted any person in front of people, then he should ask the person for forgiveness in front of the people before whom he had insulted the person.
(Malfoozaat Hakeemul Ummat 15/46)
