33/56. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 3813 — Dhikr That Sheds Sins
The Virtue Of Glorifying Allah
Hadith About Dhikr Removing Sins: Words That Shed Faults Like Leaves
Sunan Ibn Majah : 3813
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 3813
حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ رَاشِدٍ، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ أَبِي كَثِيرٍ، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ أَبِي الدَّرْدَاءِ، قَالَ قَالَ لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " عَلَيْكَ بِسُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ وَلاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ فَإِنَّهَا - يَعْنِي - يَحْطُطْنَ الْخَطَايَا كَمَا تَحُطُّ الشَّجَرَةُ وَرَقَهَا " .
Abu Darda’ Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to me: 'You should recite Subhan-Allah, wal-Hamdu-Lillah, wa la ilahah illallah, wa Allahu Akbar (Glory is to Allah, praise is to Allah, none has the right to be worshiped but Allah, and Allah is the Most Great), for it sheds sins like the tree sheds its leaves.'
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 3813In-book reference : Book 33, Hadith 157English translation : Vol. 5, Book 33, Hadith 3813
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 3813
In this hadith, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم told Abu Darda to recite Subhan-Allah, wal-Hamdu-Lillah, wa la ilaha illallah, and Allahu Akbar. He then said these words shed sins like a tree sheds its leaves. The image is simple and easy to understand. Leaves fall from a tree, and in the same way this dhikr is described as causing sins to fall away. The hadith gives hope through words that are known and easy to say. It also keeps the focus on remembrance of Allah, not on complex actions. This is a helpful hadith about dhikr, forgiveness, and using the tongue for words that draw a person back to Allah.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم advised Abu Darda to recite four phrases of dhikr.
- These words are described as shedding sins like leaves fall from a tree.
- Dhikr is a means of turning the tongue toward Allah.
