1/55. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 123c — Past Virtue and New Commitment
Clarifying the ruling of the action of an unbeliever if he accepts Islam after it
Hadith About Good Deeds in Islam and Continuing What Is Right
Sahih Muslim : 123c
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 123c
حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، وَعَبْدُ بْنُ حُمَيْدٍ، قَالاَ أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ ح وَحَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامُ بْنُ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ حَكِيمِ بْنِ حِزَامٍ، قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَشْيَاءَ كُنْتُ أَفْعَلُهَا فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ - قَالَ هِشَامٌ يَعْنِي أَتَبَرَّرُ بِهَا - فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " أَسْلَمْتَ عَلَى مَا أَسْلَفْتَ لَكَ مِنَ الْخَيْرِ " . قُلْتُ فَوَاللَّهِ لاَ أَدَعُ شَيْئًا صَنَعْتُهُ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ إِلاَّ فَعَلْتُ فِي الإِسْلاَمِ مِثْلَهُ .
Hakim bin Hizam Narrated from:
I said: Messenger of Allah, I did so some of the deeds in the state of ignorance. (One of the transmitters Hisham b. Urwa explained them as acts of piety. Upon this the Messenger, of Allah remarked: You have embraced Islam with all the previous acts of virtue. I said: By God, I would leave nothing undone in Islam the like of which I did in the state of ignorance.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 123cIn-book reference : Book 1, Hadith 232USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 1, Hadith 224
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 123c
In this report, Hakim b. Hizam mentions deeds he used to do before Islam. One transmitter explains them as acts of piety. The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم tells him that he embraced Islam with the previous good done for him. Hakim’s reply is important. He says that he will not leave anything he did before Islam except that he will do the like of it in Islam. This hadith about good deeds in Islam is not only about the past. It is also about a fresh promise. When a person finds truth, earlier good habits can be carried into a better direction. Faith should make generosity, worship, and service stronger.
What we learn from this hadith
- Hakim’s earlier acts are described as acts of piety in the report.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم confirmed that Hakim embraced Islam with his earlier good.
- Hakim responded by promising to do similar good in Islam.
- Past good should encourage more good, not make a person feel finished.
