50/5. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2759a — Repentance Day and Night
Acceptance Of Repentance From Sin, Even If The Sin And Repentance Happen Repeatedly
Hadith About Repentance Day and Night
Sahih Muslim : 2759a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2759a
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ مُرَّةَ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عُبَيْدَةَ، يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ يَبْسُطُ يَدَهُ بِاللَّيْلِ لِيَتُوبَ مُسِيءُ النَّهَارِ وَيَبْسُطُ يَدَهُ بِالنَّهَارِ لِيَتُوبَ مُسِيءُ اللَّيْلِ حَتَّى تَطْلُعَ الشَّمْسُ مِنْ مَغْرِبِهَا " . وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو دَاوُدَ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ نَحْوَهُ .
Abu Musa reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying that Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, Stretches out His Hand during the night so that the people may repent for the fault committed from dawn till dusk and He stretches out His Hand during the day so that the people may repent for the fault committed from dusk to dawn. (He would accept repentance) before the sun rises in the west (before the Day of Resurrection). A hadith like this has been narrated on the authority of Shu'ba with the same chain of transmitters.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2759a, bIn-book reference : Book 50, Hadith 36USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 37, Hadith 6644
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 2759a
This hadith about repentance gives a very direct image of Allah’s mercy. Allah stretches out His Hand during the night so that the one who did wrong in the day may repent. He also stretches out His Hand during the day so that the one who did wrong in the night may repent. The report then mentions a time limit: this remains before the sun rises from the west. The meaning is clear from the text. A person should not delay tawbah because a way back to Allah is open day and night. This Allah accepts repentance hadith is also a reminder that sins of the day and sins of the night should both be followed by turning back to Allah.
What we learn from this hadith
- Repentance is open in both night and day.
- A person should return to Allah after faults committed at any time.
- The hadith mentions a limit before the sun rises from the west.
- The wording encourages quick repentance rather than delay.
