52/17. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2816b — Salvation by Mercy
No One Will Enter Paradise By Virtue Of His Deeds, Rather By The Mercy Of Allah, Exalted Is He
Salvation by Mercy Hadith and Moderate Deeds
Sahih Muslim : 2816b
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2816b
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا لَيْثٌ، عَنْ بُكَيْرٍ، عَنْ بُسْرِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّهُ قَالَ " لَنْ يُنْجِيَ أَحَدًا مِنْكُمْ عَمَلُهُ " . قَالَ رَجُلٌ وَلاَ إِيَّاكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ " وَلاَ إِيَّاىَ إِلاَّ أَنْ يَتَغَمَّدَنِيَ اللَّهُ مِنْهُ بِرَحْمَةٍ وَلَكِنْ سَدِّدُوا " . وَحَدَّثَنِيهِ يُونُسُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الأَعْلَى الصَّدَفِيُّ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي عَمْرُو، بْنُ الْحَارِثِ عَنْ بُكَيْرِ بْنِ الأَشَجِّ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ قَالَ " بِرَحْمَةٍ مِنْهُ وَفَضْلٍ " . وَلَمْ يَذْكُرْ " وَلَكِنْ سَدِّدُوا " .
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: None amongst you would attain salvation purely because of his deeds. A person said: Allah's Messenger, even you? Thereupon he said: Yes, not even I except that Allah wraps me in Mercy, but you should act with moderation. This hadith has been transmitted on the authority of Bukair b. al-Ashajj with a slight variation of wording.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2816a, bIn-book reference : Book 52, Hadith 65USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 39, Hadith 6760
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 2816b
This narration carries the same teaching as the previous report: no one is saved purely through deeds alone. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم was asked if this applied even to him, and he answered yes, except that Allah wraps him in mercy. The report also notes a slight variation in wording, mentioning mercy and grace in one wording and not mentioning the phrase about acting with moderation in another. This is useful for readers studying the hadith about salvation by mercy, because it shows how closely related wordings were preserved. The main lesson remains clear: do good deeds, but do not rely on deeds in a proud way. Hope is tied to Allah’s mercy.
What we learn from this hadith
- The hadith repeats that deeds alone do not secure salvation.
- Allah’s mercy and grace are central in the wording.
- Slight wording variations were carefully preserved.
- The believer should work while staying humble before Allah.
