46/1. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4871 — Repentance
The Seriousness of Theft
Hadith About Repentance After Major Sins
Sunan an-Nasai : 4871
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4871
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي عَدِيٍّ، عَنْ شُعْبَةَ، عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ، ح وَأَنْبَأَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ سَيَّارٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عُثْمَانَ، عَنْ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَقَالَ أَحْمَدُ فِي حَدِيثِهِ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لاَ يَزْنِي الزَّانِي حِينَ يَزْنِي وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ وَلاَ يَسْرِقُ حِينَ يَسْرِقُ وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ وَلاَ يَشْرَبُ الْخَمْرَ حِينَ يَشْرَبُ وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ ثُمَّ التَّوْبَةُ مَعْرُوضَةٌ بَعْدُ " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
It was narrated from abu Hurairah that the Prophet - and Ahmad said in his Hadith: "The Messenger of Allah said: 'No one who commits Zina is a believer at the moment when he is committing Zina; no one who steals is a believer at the moment when he is stealing; no one who drinks wine is a believer at the moment when he is drinking it; but repentance is available to him after that.
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4871In-book reference : Book 46, Hadith 2English translation : Vol. 5, Book 46, Hadith 4875
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4871
This hadith about repentance after major sins carries both warning and hope. The Prophet says that the person committing zina is not a believer at the moment of zina, the one stealing is not a believer at the moment of theft, and the one drinking wine is not a believer at the moment of drinking. Then the narration adds that repentance is available after that. This final line matters because it keeps the explanation balanced. The hadith does not make sin look light, but it also does not close the door after the sin. It tells a person to fear the act itself, then turn back through repentance if he has fallen.
What we learn from this hadith
- Some sins are described as clashing with belief at the moment they are done.
- The narration directly mentions that repentance is available after that.
- The warning should lead a person to leave sin and return to Allah.
