65/11.4. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 4685 — Private Reckoning and Allah’s Forgiveness
The Statement of Allah:"...The witnesses will say, 'These are the ones who lied..." (V.11:18)
وَاحِدُ الأَشْهَادِ شَاهِدٌ مِثْلُ صَاحِبٍ وَأَصْحَابٍ.
Hadith About Allah’s Forgiveness and the Private Reckoning
Sahih Bukhari : 4685
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 4685
حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ زُرَيْعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدٌ، وَهِشَامٌ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا قَتَادَةُ، عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ مُحْرِزٍ، قَالَ بَيْنَا ابْنُ عُمَرَ يَطُوفُ إِذْ عَرَضَ رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ ـ أَوْ قَالَ يَا ابْنَ عُمَرَ ـ سَمِعْتَ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي النَّجْوَى فَقَالَ سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " يُدْنَى الْمُؤْمِنُ مِنْ رَبِّهِ ـ وَقَالَ هِشَامٌ يَدْنُو الْمُؤْمِنُ ـ حَتَّى يَضَعَ عَلَيْهِ كَنَفَهُ، فَيُقَرِّرُهُ بِذُنُوبِهِ تَعْرِفُ ذَنْبَ كَذَا يَقُولُ أَعْرِفُ، يَقُولُ رَبِّ أَعْرِفُ مَرَّتَيْنِ، فَيَقُولُ سَتَرْتُهَا فِي الدُّنْيَا وَأَغْفِرُهَا لَكَ الْيَوْمَ ثُمَّ تُطْوَى صَحِيفَةُ حَسَنَاتِهِ، وَأَمَّا الآخَرُونَ أَوِ الْكُفَّارُ فَيُنَادَى عَلَى رُءُوسِ الأَشْهَادِ هَؤُلاَءِ الَّذِينَ كَذَبُوا عَلَى رَبِّهِمْ ". وَقَالَ شَيْبَانُ عَنْ قَتَادَةَ حَدَّثَنَا صَفْوَانُ.
Safwan bin Muhriz Narrated from:
While Ibn `Umar was performing the Tawaf (around the Ka`ba), a man came up to him and said, "O Abu `AbdurRahman!" or said, "O Ibn `Umar! Did you hear anything from the Prophet (ﷺ) about An Najwa?" Ibn `Umar said, "I heard the Prophet (ﷺ) saying, 'The Believer will be brought near his Lord."(Hisham, a sub-narrator said, reporting the Prophet's words), "The believer will come near (his Lord) till his Lord covers him with His screen and makes him confess his sins. (Allah will ask him), 'Do you know (that you did) 'such-and-such sin?" He will say twice, 'Yes, I do.' Then Allah will say, 'I concealed it in the world and I forgive it for you today.' Then the record of his good deeds will be folded up. As for the others, or the disbelievers, it will be announced publicly before the witnesses: 'These are ones who lied against their Lord."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4685In-book reference : Book 65, Hadith 207USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 6, Book 60, Hadith 207
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 4685
This Hadith about Allah’s forgiveness describes a very serious scene from the Hereafter. The believer is brought near to his Lord, covered by His screen, and made to confess his sins. He admits them, and Allah says that He concealed those sins in the world and forgives them that day. Then the record of his good deeds is folded up. The narration also gives a contrast: others, or the disbelievers, are announced before the witnesses as those who lied against their Lord. The main lesson is not to feel safe from sin, but also not to lose hope in Allah’s mercy. The Hadith mentions confession, concealment, forgiveness, and public exposure for those described in the text.
What we learn from this hadith
- The believer’s sins are shown in a private reckoning as described in the Hadith.
- Allah’s concealment in the world and forgiveness on that day are clearly mentioned.
- The believer admits the sins rather than denying them.
- The narration contrasts private forgiveness with public exposure for those who lied against their Lord.
