33/32. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1885a — Martyrdom, Sincerity, and Debt
If a person is killed in the cause of Allah, all his sins will be expiated except debt
Hadith About Martyrdom, Forgiveness, and Debt in Islam
Sahih Muslim : 1885a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1885a
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا لَيْثٌ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي، قَتَادَةَ عَنْ أَبِي قَتَادَةَ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَهُ يُحَدِّثُ، عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّهُ قَامَ فِيهِمْ فَذَكَرَ لَهُمْ " أَنَّ الْجِهَادَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَالإِيمَانَ بِاللَّهِ أَفْضَلُ الأَعْمَالِ " . فَقَامَ رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ قُتِلْتُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ تُكَفَّرُ عَنِّي خَطَايَاىَ فَقَالَ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " نَعَمْ إِنْ قُتِلْتَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَأَنْتَ صَابِرٌ مُحْتَسِبٌ مُقْبِلٌ غَيْرُ مُدْبِرٍ " . ثُمَّ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " كَيْفَ قُلْتَ " . قَالَ أَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ قُتِلْتُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ أَتُكَفَّرُ عَنِّي خَطَايَاىَ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " نَعَمْ وَأَنْتَ صَابِرٌ مُحْتَسِبٌ مُقْبِلٌ غَيْرُ مُدْبِرٍ إِلاَّ الدَّيْنَ فَإِنَّ جِبْرِيلَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ قَالَ لِي ذَلِكَ " .
Abu Qatadah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) stood up among them (his Companions) to deliver his sermon in which he told them that Jihad in the way of Allah and belief in Allah (with all His Attributes) are the most meritorious of acts. A man stood up and said: Messenger of Allah, do you think that if I am killed in the way of Allah, my sins will be blotted out from me? The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Yes, in case you are killed in the way of Allah and you were patient and sincere and you always fought facing the enemy, never turning your back upon him.Then he added: What have you said (now)? (Wishing to have further assurance from him for his satisfaction), he asked (again): Do you think if I am killed in the way of Allah, all my sins will be obliterated from me? The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Yes, it you were patient and sincere and always fought facing the enemy and never turning your back upon him, (all your lapses would be forgiven) except debt. Gabriel has told me this.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1885aIn-book reference : Book 33, Hadith 176USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 20, Hadith 4646
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1885a
This hadith includes an important question about being killed in the way of Allah. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said that Jihad in the way of Allah and belief in Allah are among the most meritorious acts. A man asked whether his sins would be blotted out if he were killed in the way of Allah. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said yes, with clear conditions: he must be patient, sincere, facing the enemy, and not turning his back. Then the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) repeated the answer but added an exception: debt. He said that Gabriel had told him this. The main teaching is that martyrdom is honored, but debts still matter.
What we learn from this hadith
- Jihad in the way of Allah and belief in Allah are described as highly meritorious acts.
- Forgiveness mentioned in the hadith is tied to patience, sincerity, and steadfastness.
- The hadith clearly makes an exception for debt.
- The man asked again, showing his wish for clear understanding.
