Expiation for Sins
Total Hadiths 7
What Do Authentic Hadiths Say About the Expiation for Sins?
These authentic prophetic narratives offer deep reassurance regarding the expiation for sins through sincere good actions. The accounts highlight a companion who approached Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) after committing a minor offence with a woman, short of actual fornication. After initially seeking counsel from Umar and Abu Bakr, who both treated the matter seriously, the man confessed his mistake to the Prophet (ﷺ). In response, Allah revealed the Quranic verse establishing that daily prayers wipe away evil deeds. This beautiful promise of forgiveness and spiritual renewal is not restricted to that individual alone, but applies as a universal mercy to the entire Muslim community.
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، وَأَبُو كَامِلٍ فُضَيْلُ بْنُ حُسَيْنٍ الْجَحْدَرِيُّ كِلاَهُمَا عَنْ يَزِيدَ، بْنِ زُرَيْعٍ - وَاللَّفْظُ لأَبِي كَامِلٍ - حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ، حَدَّثَنَا التَّيْمِيُّ، عَنْ أَبِي عُثْمَانَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ أَنَّ رَجُلاً، أَصَابَ مِنِ امْرَأَةٍ قُبْلَةً فَأَتَى النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَذَكَرَ لَهُ ذَلِكَ - قَالَ - فَنَزَلَتْ { أَقِمِ الصَّلاَةَ طَرَفَىِ النَّهَارِ وَزُلَفًا مِنَ اللَّيْلِ إِنَّ الْحَسَنَاتِ يُذْهِبْنَ السَّيِّئَاتِ ذَلِكَ ذِكْرَى لِلذَّاكِرِينَ} قَالَ فَقَالَ الرَّجُلُ أَلِيَ هَذِهِ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ " لِمَنْ عَمِلَ بِهَا مِنْ أُمَّتِي " .
Abdullah b. Mas'ud reported that a person kissed a woman and he came to Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) and made a mention of that to him. It was (on this occasion) that this verse was revealed: " And observe prayer at the (two) ends of the day and in the first hours of the night. Surely, good deeds take away evil deeds. That is a reminder for the mindful" (xi. 115). That person said: Allah's Messenger, does it concern me only? He (the Holy Prophet) said: It concerns every one of my Unimah, who acts according to it.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2763aIn-book reference : Book 50, Hadith 47USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 37, Hadith 6655
حَدَّثَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ الْحُلْوَانِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عَاصِمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا هَمَّامٌ، عَنْ إِسْحَاقَ، بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي طَلْحَةَ عَنْ أَنَسٍ، قَالَ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَصَبْتُ حَدًّا فَأَقِمْهُ عَلَىَّ - قَالَ - وَحَضَرَتِ الصَّلاَةُ فَصَلَّى مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَلَمَّا قَضَى الصَّلاَةَ قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي أَصَبْتُ حَدًّا فَأَقِمْ فِيَّ كِتَابَ اللَّهِ . قَالَ " هَلْ حَضَرْتَ الصَّلاَةَ مَعَنَا " . قَالَ نَعَمْ . قَالَ " قَدْ غُفِرَ لَكَ " .
Anas Narrated from:
A person came to Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) said: Allah's Messenger, I have committed an offence which deserves imposition of haad, so impose it upon me according to the Book of Allah. Thereupon he said: Were you not present with us at the time of prayer? He said: Yes. Thereupon he said: You have been granted pardon.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2764In-book reference : Book 50, Hadith 52USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 37, Hadith 6660
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، وَقُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، وَأَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ - وَاللَّفْظُ لِيَحْيَى - قَالَ يَحْيَى أَخْبَرَنَا وَقَالَ الآخَرَانِ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الأَحْوَصِ، عَنْ سِمَاكٍ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ عَلْقَمَةَ، وَالأَسْوَدِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي عَالَجْتُ امْرَأَةً فِي أَقْصَى الْمَدِينَةِ وَإِنِّي أَصَبْتُ مِنْهَا مَا دُونَ أَنْ أَمَسَّهَا فَأَنَا هَذَا فَاقْضِ فِيَّ مَا شِئْتَ . فَقَالَ لَهُ عُمَرُ لَقَدْ سَتَرَكَ اللَّهُ لَوْ سَتَرْتَ نَفْسَكَ - قَالَ - فَلَمْ يَرُدَّ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم شَيْئًا فَقَامَ الرَّجُلُ فَانْطَلَقَ فَأَتْبَعَهُ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم رَجُلاً دَعَاهُ وَتَلاَ عَلَيْهِ هَذِهِ الآيَةَ { أَقِمِ الصَّلاَةَ طَرَفَىِ النَّهَارِ وَزُلَفًا مِنَ اللَّيْلِ إِنَّ الْحَسَنَاتِ يُذْهِبْنَ السَّيِّئَاتِ ذَلِكَ ذِكْرَى لِلذَّاكِرِينَ} فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ هَذَا لَهُ خَاصَّةً قَالَ " بَلْ لِلنَّاسِ كَافَّةً " .
`Abdullah Narrated from:
A person came to Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) and said: Allah's Messenger, I sported with a woman in the outskirts of Medina, and I have committed an offence short of fornication. Here I am (before you), kindly deliver verdict about me which you deem fit. Unar said: Allah concealed your fault. You had better conceal it yourself also. Allah's Apostle (ﷺ), however, gave no reply to him.The man stood up and went away and Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) sent a person after him to call him and be recited this verse:" And observe prayer at the ends of the day and in the first hours of the night. Surely, good deeds take away evil deeds. That is a reminder for the mindful" (xi. 115).A person amongst the people said: Allah's Apostle, does it concern this man only? Thereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: No, but the people at large.
[1] Hûd 11:114.Reference : Sahih Muslim 2763dIn-book reference : Book 50, Hadith 50USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 37, Hadith 6658
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الأَعْلَى، حَدَّثَنَا الْمُعْتَمِرُ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عُثْمَانَ، عَنِ ابْنِ، مَسْعُودٍ أَنَّ رَجُلاً، أَتَى النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَذَكَرَ أَنَّهُ أَصَابَ مِنِ امْرَأَةٍ إِمَّا قُبْلَةً أَوْ مَسًّا بِيَدٍ أَوْ شَيْئًا كَأَنَّهُ يَسْأَلُ عَنْ كَفَّارَتِهَا - قَالَ - فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ . ثُمَّ ذَكَرَ بِمِثْلِ حَدِيثِ يَزِيدَ .
Ibn Mas'ud Narrated from:
A person came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and told him that he had kissed a woman or touched her with his hand or did something like this. He inquired of him about its expiation. It was (on this occasion) that Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, revealed this verse (as mentioned above).
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2763bIn-book reference : Book 50, Hadith 48USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 37, Hadith 6656
حَدَّثَنَا نَصْرُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ الْجَهْضَمِيُّ، وَزُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، - وَاللَّفْظُ لِزُهَيْرٍ - قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا عُمَرُ بْنُ يُونُسَ، حَدَّثَنَا عِكْرِمَةُ بْنُ عَمَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شَدَّادٌ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أُمَامَةَ، قَالَ بَيْنَمَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي الْمَسْجِدِ وَنَحْنُ قُعُودٌ مَعَهُ إِذْ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي أَصَبْتُ حَدًّا فَأَقِمْهُ عَلَىَّ . فَسَكَتَ عَنْهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ثُمَّ أَعَادَ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي أَصَبْتُ حَدًّا فَأَقِمْهُ عَلَىَّ . فَسَكَتَ عَنْهُ وَأُقِيمَتِ الصَّلاَةُ فَلَمَّا انْصَرَفَ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ أَبُو أُمَامَةَ فَاتَّبَعَ الرَّجُلُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم حِينَ انْصَرَفَ وَاتَّبَعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنْظُرُ مَا يَرُدُّ عَلَى الرَّجُلِ فَلَحِقَ الرَّجُلُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي أَصَبْتُ حَدًّا فَأَقِمْهُ عَلَىَّ - قَالَ أَبُو أُمَامَةَ - فَقَالَ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " أَرَأَيْتَ حِينَ خَرَجْتَ مِنْ بَيْتِكَ أَلَيْسَ قَدْ تَوَضَّأْتَ فَأَحْسَنْتَ الْوُضُوءَ " . قَالَ بَلَى يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ . قَالَ " ثُمَّ شَهِدْتَ الصَّلاَةَ مَعَنَا " . فَقَالَ نَعَمْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ . قَالَ فَقَالَ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ غَفَرَ لَكَ حَدَّكَ - أَوْ قَالَ - ذَنْبَكَ " .
Abu Umamah Narrated from:
We were sitting in the mosque in the company of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ). A person came there and said: Allah's Messenger, I have committed an offence which deserves the imposition of hadd upon me, so impose it upon me. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) kept silent. He repeated it and said: Allah's Messenger, I have committed an offence which deserves the imposition of hadd upon me, so impose it upon me. He (the Holy Prophet) kept silent, and it was at this time that Iqama was pronounced for prayer (and the prayer was observed). And when Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) had concluded the payer that person followed Allah's Messenger (ﷺ).Abu Umama said: I too followed Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) after he had concluded the prayer, so that I should know what answer he would give to that person. That person remained attached to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and said: Allah's Messenger, I have committed an offence which deserves imposition of hadd upon me, so impose it upon me.Abu Umama reported that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said to him: Didn't you see that as you got out of the house, you performed ablution perfectly well. He said: Allah's Messenger, of course. I did it. He again said to him: Then you observed prayer along with us. He said: Allah's Messenger, yes, it is so. Thereupon Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said to him: Verily, Allah has exempted you from the imposition of hadd, or he said. From your sin.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2765In-book reference : Book 50, Hadith 53USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 37, Hadith 6661
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو النُّعْمَانِ الْحَكَمُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الْعِجْلِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ سِمَاكِ بْنِ حَرْبٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ خَالِهِ الأَسْوَدِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِمَعْنَى حَدِيثِ أَبِي الأَحْوَصِ وَقَالَ فِي حَدِيثِهِ فَقَالَ مُعَاذٌ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ هَذَا لِهَذَا خَاصَّةً أَوْ لَنَا عَامَّةً قَالَ " بَلْ لَكُمْ عَامَّةً " .
Abu Al-Ahwas Narrated from:
This hadith has been transmitted by Abu al-Ahwas and in this (these words are) also found: Mu'adh said: Allah's Messenger, does it concern this particular case or to all of us? And he (the Holy Prophet) said: Of course, to all of you.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2763eIn-book reference : Book 50, Hadith 51USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 37, Hadith 6659
حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ التَّيْمِيِّ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ قَالَ أَصَابَ رَجُلٌ مِنِ امْرَأَةٍ شَيْئًا دُونَ الْفَاحِشَةِ فَأَتَى عُمَرَ بْنَ الْخَطَّابِ فَعَظَّمَ عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ أَتَى أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَعَظَّمَ عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ أَتَى النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَذَكَرَ بِمِثْلِ حَدِيثِ يَزِيدَ وَالْمُعْتَمِرِ .
Sulaiman Taimi Narrated from:
A person had taken liberty with a woman less than fornication. He came to 'Umar b. Khattab and he took it to be a serious offence. Then he came to Abu Bakr and he also took it to be a serious offence. Then he came the Allahs Apostle (ﷺ) and he made a mention of this to him. The rest of the hadith is the same.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2763cIn-book reference : Book 50, Hadith 49USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 37, Hadith 6657
