Return the money and the other

Q: I used to work as a teacher in an Arab country for four years. I worked in villages that honor teachers by giving them food, drinks and money. I was tempted by Satan and encouraged by greed to impose certain kinds of food and drinks and certain sums of money on them, and they offered me all that I asked for, whether willingly or by force, so that their children would succeed. This went on for four years in different villages. I stopped working in this country two years ago. I performed Hajj while I was working there. Now my conscience troubles me because I have taken things which I do not deserve, whether food or money. I cannot count the money I took (Part No. 15; Page No. 354) exactly, but I can only estimate it. I do not know the number of people to whom I owe this money, because they belong to different villages. I want to perform Tawbah (repentance to Allah) and purge my money. What should I do? What is the ruling on the Hajj I had performed? Please advise, may Allah reward you.

A: You should return all that you have taken undeservedly to its owners. If you can not do that, you should give it as a Sadaqah (voluntary charity) with the intention of giving the reward to the owners. May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.