50/7. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2763d — Good Deeds Remove Sins
The Words Of Allah The Most High: "Verily, The Good Deeds Remove The Evil Deeds"
Hadith About Good Deeds Removing Sins
Sahih Muslim : 2763d
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2763d
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، وَقُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، وَأَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ - وَاللَّفْظُ لِيَحْيَى - قَالَ يَحْيَى أَخْبَرَنَا وَقَالَ الآخَرَانِ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الأَحْوَصِ، عَنْ سِمَاكٍ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ عَلْقَمَةَ، وَالأَسْوَدِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي عَالَجْتُ امْرَأَةً فِي أَقْصَى الْمَدِينَةِ وَإِنِّي أَصَبْتُ مِنْهَا مَا دُونَ أَنْ أَمَسَّهَا فَأَنَا هَذَا فَاقْضِ فِيَّ مَا شِئْتَ . فَقَالَ لَهُ عُمَرُ لَقَدْ سَتَرَكَ اللَّهُ لَوْ سَتَرْتَ نَفْسَكَ - قَالَ - فَلَمْ يَرُدَّ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم شَيْئًا فَقَامَ الرَّجُلُ فَانْطَلَقَ فَأَتْبَعَهُ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم رَجُلاً دَعَاهُ وَتَلاَ عَلَيْهِ هَذِهِ الآيَةَ { أَقِمِ الصَّلاَةَ طَرَفَىِ النَّهَارِ وَزُلَفًا مِنَ اللَّيْلِ إِنَّ الْحَسَنَاتِ يُذْهِبْنَ السَّيِّئَاتِ ذَلِكَ ذِكْرَى لِلذَّاكِرِينَ} فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ هَذَا لَهُ خَاصَّةً قَالَ " بَلْ لِلنَّاسِ كَافَّةً " .
`Abdullah Narrated from:
A person came to Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) and said: Allah's Messenger, I sported with a woman in the outskirts of Medina, and I have committed an offence short of fornication. Here I am (before you), kindly deliver verdict about me which you deem fit. Unar said: Allah concealed your fault. You had better conceal it yourself also. Allah's Apostle (ﷺ), however, gave no reply to him.The man stood up and went away and Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) sent a person after him to call him and be recited this verse:" And observe prayer at the ends of the day and in the first hours of the night. Surely, good deeds take away evil deeds. That is a reminder for the mindful" (xi. 115).A person amongst the people said: Allah's Apostle, does it concern this man only? Thereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: No, but the people at large.
[1] Hûd 11:114.Reference : Sahih Muslim 2763dIn-book reference : Book 50, Hadith 50USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 37, Hadith 6658
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 2763d
This hadith about good deeds removing sins shows a man who admitted an offence short of fornication and came to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم asking for a judgment. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم did not rush to shame him. Then the verse was recited: observe prayer at the ends of the day and in the early hours of the night, because good deeds take away evil deeds. The key message is clear and gentle: when a person falls into a wrong action, he should turn back to Allah and increase in prayer and good deeds. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم also made it clear that this reminder was not only for that man, but for people in general.
What we learn from this hadith
- A person who slips should turn back to Allah instead of losing hope.
- Prayer is presented in the text as a good deed that helps remove evil deeds.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم answered with mercy and guidance, not public humiliation.
- The lesson applies broadly, not only to one individual case.
