1/40. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 94b — La Ilaha Illallah and Dying Upon It
The evidence that the one who dies not associating anything with Allah will enter paradise, and the one who dies as idolator will enter the fire
La Ilaha Illallah Hadith: Dying Upon Tawhid
Sahih Muslim : 94b
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 94b
حَدَّثَنِي زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، وَأَحْمَدُ بْنُ خِرَاشٍ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الصَّمَدِ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْوَارِثِ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي قَالَ، حَدَّثَنِي حُسَيْنٌ الْمُعَلِّمُ، عَنِ ابْنِ بُرَيْدَةَ، أَنَّ يَحْيَى بْنَ يَعْمَرَ، حَدَّثَهُ أَنَّ أَبَا الأَسْوَدِ الدِّيلِيَّ حَدَّثَهُ أَنَّ أَبَا ذَرٍّ حَدَّثَهُ قَالَ أَتَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَهُوَ نَائِمٌ عَلَيْهِ ثَوْبٌ أَبْيَضُ ثُمَّ أَتَيْتُهُ فَإِذَا هُوَ نَائِمٌ ثُمَّ أَتَيْتُهُ وَقَدِ اسْتَيْقَظَ فَجَلَسْتُ إِلَيْهِ فَقَالَ " مَا مِنْ عَبْدٍ قَالَ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ ثُمَّ مَاتَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ إِلاَّ دَخَلَ الْجَنَّةَ " . قُلْتُ وَإِنْ زَنَى وَإِنْ سَرَقَ قَالَ " وَإِنْ زَنَى وَإِنْ سَرَقَ " . قُلْتُ وَإِنْ زَنَى وَإِنْ سَرَقَ قَالَ " وَإِنْ زَنَى وَإِنْ سَرَقَ " . ثَلاَثًا ثُمَّ قَالَ فِي الرَّابِعَةِ " عَلَى رَغْمِ أَنْفِ أَبِي ذَرٍّ " قَالَ فَخَرَجَ أَبُو ذَرٍّ وَهُوَ يَقُولُ وَإِنْ رَغِمَ أَنْفُ أَبِي ذَرٍّ .
Abu Dharr Narrated from:
I came to the Apostle (may peace be upon him) and he was asleep with a white mantle over him. I again came, he was still asleep, I came again and he had awakened. I sat by his side and (the Holy Prophet) observed: There is none among the bondsmen who affirmed his faith in La illaha ill-Allah there is no God but Allah) and died in this state and did not enter Paradise.I (Abu Dharr) said: Even if he committed adultery and theft? He (the Holy Prophet) replied: (Yes) even though he committed adultery and theft. I (again said): Even if he committed adultery and theft? He replied: (Yes) even though he committed adultery and theft. (Th Holy Prophet repeated it three times) and said for the fourth time: In defiance of Abu Dharr. Abu Dharr then went out and he repeated (these words): In defiance of Abu Dharr.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 94bIn-book reference : Book 1, Hadith 179USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 1, Hadith 172
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 94b
This hadith about La ilaha illallah shows the weight of affirming faith and dying upon it. Abu Dharr came to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, sat beside him after he awoke, and heard him say that no servant says La ilaha illallah, then dies upon that, except that he enters Paradise. Abu Dharr asked more than once whether this applied even if the person committed adultery and theft. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم answered yes, and repeated it. The narration is full of hope, but it is not a permission slip for sin. Its focus is dying upon tawhid. The repeated wording helps the reader feel how strong the message is.
What we learn from this hadith
- Saying La ilaha illallah and dying upon it is the center of the hadith.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم repeated the answer to make the message clear.
- The text gives hope without praising or excusing the sins named in it.
