65/39.1. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 4810 — Do Not Despair of Allah’s Mercy
The Statement of Allah the Most High: Say: "O 'Ibādi (My slaves) who have transgressed against themselves (by committing evil deeds and sins)! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah..." (V39:53)
Hadith About Repentance and Allah’s Mercy
Sahih Bukhari : 4810
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 4810
حَدَّثَنِي إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ مُوسَى، أَخْبَرَنَا هِشَامُ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، أَنَّ ابْنَ جُرَيْجٍ، أَخْبَرَهُمْ قَالَ يَعْلَى إِنَّ سَعِيدَ بْنَ جُبَيْرٍ أَخْبَرَهُ عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ أَنَّ نَاسًا، مِنْ أَهْلِ الشِّرْكِ كَانُوا قَدْ قَتَلُوا وَأَكْثَرُوا وَزَنَوْا وَأَكْثَرُوا، فَأَتَوْا مُحَمَّدًا صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالُوا إِنَّ الَّذِي تَقُولُ وَتَدْعُو إِلَيْهِ لَحَسَنٌ لَوْ تُخْبِرُنَا أَنَّ لِمَا عَمِلْنَا كَفَّارَةً. فَنَزَلَ {وَالَّذِينَ لاَ يَدْعُونَ مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَهًا آخَرَ وَلاَ يَقْتُلُونَ النَّفْسَ الَّتِي حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ إِلاَّ بِالْحَقِّ وَلاَ يَزْنُونَ} وَنَزَلَ {قُلْ يَا عِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا عَلَى أَنْفُسِهِمْ لاَ تَقْنَطُوا مِنْ رَحْمَةِ اللَّهِ}
Ibn 'Abbas Narrated from:
Some pagans who committed murders in great number and committed illegal sexual intercourse excessively, came to Muhammad and said, "O Muhammad! Whatever you say and invite people to, is good: but we wish if you could inform us whether we can make an expiration for our (past evil) deeds." So the Divine Verses came:'Those who invoke not with Allah any other god, not kill such life as Allah has forbidden except for just cause, nor commit illegal sexual intercourse.' (25.68)And there was also revealed:--'Say: O My slaves who have transgressed against their souls! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah.' (39.53)
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4810In-book reference : Book 65, Hadith 332USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 6, Book 60, Hadith 334
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 4810
This Hadith is about repentance, hope, and not despairing of Allah’s mercy. Some pagans came to the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) after committing many murders and much illegal sexual intercourse. They said that what he called to was good, but they wanted to know whether there was any expiation for what they had done. Then verses were revealed, including the verse that mentions avoiding shirk, unlawful killing, and illegal sexual intercourse, and the verse, 'O My slaves who have transgressed against their souls! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah.' The Hadith about repentance teaches that even people with heavy past sins were invited to look toward Allah’s mercy, not hopelessness.
What we learn from this hadith
- People with a sinful past may still ask about a way back to Allah.
- The Qur’an warns against shirk, unlawful killing, and illegal sexual intercourse.
- The verse tells transgressing servants not to despair of Allah’s mercy.
- A sincere search for expiation is treated with guidance, not rejection.
