Question Summary:
I Have Committed A Grave Sin. How Must I Repent?

Question Detail:

I have to confess one sad incident of my life; which I could not resolve it as yet. I comitted Zina with my mother sister when I was very young. At that time I was not aware of the facts that zina is the worst thing I can do in life. she was elder to me around 17 years old and we some how fell in love but later we realized that our relationship is haram and we cannot be together with this way as our relationship is very sensitive.
She later got married and I never look back on her. I could not confess it that time as she was married and i do not want to destroy her marriage life. so I kept quite and left the country and I never met her again. Years later she got mentally ill and she opened all of our secrets to her husband and family members. she made me ashamed infront of everybody.
I want to know what is the solution for me to ask ALLAH forgiveness in this matter as this was happened during my childhood when I was in my teenage years.During my life I ask in my prayers many times from ALLAH forgiveness, Now my uncle which is my mother younger brother asking me to get islamic advice to somehow to find a solution to resolve this matter. KIndly help me to advice the best Islamic solution or the way so I can be for given by ALLAH.

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
 
You state that you committed a sin earlier in your life and have sought the forgiveness of Allāh Ta’ālā. Allāh Ta’ālā loves those who repent and pardons their sins. No matter how grave a sin may be, if one sincerely repents to Allāh Ta’ālā, Allāh Ta’ālā will surely forgive him. Allāh Ta’ālā states in the Holy Qurān:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ   (سورة الزمر، رقم الآية 53)
Verily Allāh forgives all sins. Undoubtedly, He is the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful.” (Qurān 39:53)
Hence, have conviction in the forgiveness of Almighty Allāh Ta’ālā.
You have stated that your uncle and other family members are concerned about the issue. Explain to your uncle and others that the incident in reference was a mistake that was committed while you were young and you have sought the forgiveness of Allāh Ta’ālā. Tell them that it is in favor of the family’s unity and relationship if the past is left behind and forgotten. If past mistakes are given vent and become the topics of discussions, then this may cause uncontainable damage to the family’s harmony.
We ask Allāh Ta’ālā that He grant ease to your situation. Amīn.  
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Abdul Azīm bin Abdur Rahman,
Student Darul Iftaa
U.S.A.
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.