37/15. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4068 — Repentance After Returning to Disbelief
The Repentance of the Apostate
Repentance After Apostasy in Islam
Sunan an-Nasai : 4068
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4068
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ بَزِيعٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ زُرَيْعٍ - قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا دَاوُدُ، عَنْ عِكْرِمَةَ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ كَانَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ أَسْلَمَ ثُمَّ ارْتَدَّ وَلَحِقَ بِالشِّرْكِ ثُمَّ تَنَدَّمَ فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَى قَوْمِهِ سَلُوا لِي رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم هَلْ لِي مِنْ تَوْبَةٍ فَجَاءَ قَوْمُهُ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالُوا إِنَّ فُلاَنًا قَدْ نَدِمَ وَإِنَّهُ أَمَرَنَا أَنْ نَسْأَلَكَ هَلْ لَهُ مِنْ تَوْبَةٍ فَنَزَلَتْ { كَيْفَ يَهْدِي اللَّهُ قَوْمًا كَفَرُوا بَعْدَ إِيمَانِهِمْ } إِلَى قَوْلِهِ { غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ } " . فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَيْهِ فَأَسْلَمَ .
Ibn 'Abbas Narrated from:
A man from among the Ansar accepted Islam, then he apostatized and went back to Shirk. Then he regretted that, and sent word to his people (saying): 'Ask the Messenger of Allah [SAW], is there any repentance for me?' His people came to the Messenger of Allah [SAW] and said: 'So and so regrets (what he did), and he has told us to ask you if there is any repentance for him?' Then the Verses: 'How shall Allah guide a people who disbelieved after their Belief up to His saying: Verily, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful' was revealed. So he sent word to him, and he accepted Islam.
[1] Âl ‘Imrân 3:86-89.Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4068In-book reference : Book 37, Hadith 103English translation : Vol. 5, Book 37, Hadith 4073
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4068
This hadith about repentance after apostasy tells of an Ansari man who accepted Islam, later returned to shirk, and then deeply regretted it. Instead of assuming that the door was closed, he sent his people to ask the Messenger of Allah whether repentance was available to him. Verses were then revealed, ending with the statement that Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. The man was informed and accepted Islam again. The core message is clear: regret moved him to seek an answer, and the answer led him back to faith. The narration supports hope, honest questioning, and a real return after wrongdoing without making claims beyond the event described.
What we learn from this hadith
- Regret led the man to ask whether he could repent.
- He used his community to seek a clear answer from the Messenger of Allah.
- The revealed verses ended with Allah's forgiveness and mercy.
- After receiving the answer, he accepted Islam again.
