33/58. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 3821 — Allah’s Mercy and Forgiveness
The Virtue of Good Deeds
Hadith About Allah’s Mercy, Reward, and Forgiveness
Sunan Ibn Majah : 3821
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 3821
حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنِ الْمَعْرُورِ بْنِ سُوَيْدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي ذَرٍّ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " يَقُولُ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى مَنْ جَاءَ بِالْحَسَنَةِ فَلَهُ عَشْرُ أَمْثَالِهَا وَأَزِيدُ وَمَنْ جَاءَ بِالسَّيِّئَةِ فَجَزَاءُ سَيِّئَةٍ مِثْلُهَا أَوْ أَغْفِرُ وَمَنْ تَقَرَّبَ مِنِّي شِبْرًا تَقَرَّبْتُ مِنْهُ ذِرَاعًا وَمَنْ تَقَرَّبَ مِنِّي ذِرَاعًا تَقَرَّبْتُ مِنْهُ بَاعًا وَمَنْ أَتَانِي يَمْشِي أَتَيْتُهُ هَرْوَلَةً وَمَنْ لَقِيَنِي بِقِرَابِ الأَرْضِ خَطِيئَةً ثُمَّ لاَ يُشْرِكُ بِي شَيْئًا لَقِيتُهُ بِمِثْلِهَا مَغْفِرَةً " .
Abu Dharr Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (saas) said: "Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, said: 'Whoever does one good deed will have (the reward of) ten like it and more, and whoever does a bad deed will have one like it, or I will forgive him. Whoever draws near to Me a hand span, I draw near to him an arm's length; whoever comes to Me a forearm's length, I draw near him an arm's length; whoever comes to Me walking, I come to him in a hurry. Whoever meets Me with an earthful of sins, but does not associate anything in worship with Me, I will meet it (i.e., his sins) with forgiveness equal to that.'"
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 3821In-book reference : Book 33, Hadith 165English translation : Vol. 5, Book 33, Hadith 3821
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 3821
This Hadith Qudsi teaches a hopeful message about Allah’s mercy and forgiveness. A good deed is rewarded ten times and even more, while a bad deed is counted as one, or Allah may forgive it. The Hadith also shows that when a servant draws near to Allah, Allah responds with even greater nearness. This makes the believer feel encouraged to start with small steps of worship, repentance, and sincere return. The final part gives strong hope to the person who avoids shirk. Even if someone meets Allah with sins as great as the earth, Allah mentions forgiveness equal to that, as long as the person did not associate anything with Him in worship.
What we learn from this hadith
- A single good deed is rewarded with ten like it and more.
- A bad deed is counted as one, or Allah may forgive it.
- Drawing near to Allah is met with greater mercy from Him.
- Avoiding shirk is tied to the hope of vast forgiveness.
