Does the victim retain a claim against the killer that he may pursue on the Day of Resurrection? Scholars within the school of Ahmad and elsewhere hold two views on this. According to those who hold that he does, the killer should accumulate good deeds so that the victim may receive enough of them to satisfy his claim, leaving the killer whatever remains. If the repentant killer accumulates good deeds, there is hope that Allah will have mercy on him and save him from the Fire. None despair of Allah’s mercy except the defiantly disobedient.

He—may Allah have mercy on him—was asked about two men who disagreed concerning intentional killing. One said, “This is a sin that cannot be forgiven,” while the other said, “If he repents, Allah will accept his repentance.”

He replied:

The victim’s claim is not extinguished by the killer’s plea for forgiveness. This applies both to killing and to all other wrongs committed against people: the victim’s claim is not extinguished merely by asking Allah’s forgiveness. Nevertheless, the repentance of a killer, like that of other wrongdoers, is accepted, and through repentance Allah forgives the violation of His own right.

As for the rights of those who have been wronged, Allah will grant them their full due, either from the wrongdoer’s good deeds or from His own bounty. And Allah knows best.