37/2. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4004 — Hope and Expiation for Past Sins
The Gravity of the Sin of Shedding Blood
Hope for Sinners: Repentance and Expiation in Islam
Sunan an-Nasai : 4004
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4004
أَخْبَرَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الزَّعْفَرَانِيُّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا حَجَّاجُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، قَالَ ابْنُ جُرَيْجٍ أَخْبَرَنِي يَعْلَى، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، أَنَّ نَاسًا، مِنْ أَهْلِ الشِّرْكِ أَتَوْا مُحَمَّدًا فَقَالُوا إِنَّ الَّذِي تَقُولُ وَتَدْعُو إِلَيْهِ لَحَسَنٌ لَوْ تُخْبِرُنَا أَنَّ لِمَا عَمِلْنَا كَفَّارَةً . فَنَزَلَتْ { وَالَّذِينَ لاَ يَدْعُونَ مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَهًا آخَرَ } وَنَزَلَتْ { قُلْ يَا عِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا عَلَى أَنْفُسِهِمْ } .
Ibn 'Abbas Narrated from:
Some of the people of Shirk came to Muhammad [SAW] and said: "What you say and call people to is good, if only you could tell us that there is any expiation for what we have done." Then the Verses: "And those who invoke not any other ilah (god) along with Allah, or kill such a person as Allah has forbidden, except by right." And "Say: O 'Ibadi (My slaves) who have transgressed against themselves (by committing evil deeds and sins)" were revealed.
[2] Al-Furqân 25:68.[3] Al-Zumar 39:53.Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4004In-book reference : Book 37, Hadith 39English translation : Vol. 5, Book 37, Hadith 4009
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4004
This hadith tells of some people from the people of shirk who came to the Prophet. They recognized that what he taught and called people toward was good. Their concern was their own past, so they asked whether there was any expiation for what they had done. The narration then connects their question with the revelation of two passages: the verses in Surah Al-Furqan that mention avoiding shirk and unlawful killing, and the verse beginning, Say, O My slaves who have transgressed against themselves. The core message is hope for people who want to leave a sinful life and respond to Allah's call. At the same time, the text does not minimize their past actions. It joins a serious warning against major sins with an open call for those who have wronged themselves to turn back.
What we learn from this hadith
- People with serious past sins may still seek a way to turn back to Allah.
- The people in the report first recognized the goodness of the Prophet's call.
- The revealed passages combine warning against grave sins with hope for those who transgressed.
- The hadith does not treat expiation as permission to continue the same wrongdoing.
