Repentance and Forgiveness
Total Hadiths 8
Authentic Hadiths on Repentance and Forgiveness
Are you seeking a fresh start and a way to wash away your past mistakes? These powerful, authentic hadiths illuminate the vastness of divine mercy and show us exactly how to attain it. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) shared moving stories of the past to demonstrate that no sin is too large for sincere repentance. We learn of a man who murdered one hundred people but was entirely forgiven simply because he took his final, dying steps toward a righteous village. In another beautiful account, a prostitute secured immediate entry into divine grace by showing sincere mercy to a dying, thirsty dog. Furthermore, the famous story of three men trapped in a dark cave proves that calling upon Allah through past deeds done purely out of His fear can literally move boulders out of your path. According to Islamic scholars, these narratives teach us that real change begins by turning back to the Creator with an honest heart, trusting that His mercy always overcomes our faults.
حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ تَلِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي جَرِيرُ بْنُ حَازِمٍ، عَنْ أَيُّوبَ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِيرِينَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " بَيْنَمَا كَلْبٌ يُطِيفُ بِرَكِيَّةٍ كَادَ يَقْتُلُهُ الْعَطَشُ، إِذْ رَأَتْهُ بَغِيٌّ مِنْ بَغَايَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ، فَنَزَعَتْ مُوقَهَا فَسَقَتْهُ، فَغُفِرَ لَهَا بِهِ ".
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "While a dog was going round a well and was about to die of thirst, an Israeli prostitute saw it and took off her shoe and watered it. So Allah forgave her because of that good deed."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 3467In-book reference : Book 60, Hadith 134USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 4, Book 55, Hadith 673
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُتْبَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " كَانَ الرَّجُلُ يُدَايِنُ النَّاسَ، فَكَانَ يَقُولُ لِفَتَاهُ إِذَا أَتَيْتَ مُعْسِرًا فَتَجَاوَزْ عَنْهُ، لَعَلَّ اللَّهُ أَنْ يَتَجَاوَزَ عَنَّا. قَالَ فَلَقِيَ اللَّهَ فَتَجَاوَزَ عَنْهُ ".
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "A man used to give loans to the people and used to say to his servant, 'If the debtor is poor, forgive him, so that Allah may forgive us.' So when he met Allah (after his death), Allah forgave him."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 3480In-book reference : Book 60, Hadith 147USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 4, Book 55, Hadith 687
حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامٌ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ حُمَيْدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " كَانَ رَجُلٌ يُسْرِفُ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ، فَلَمَّا حَضَرَهُ الْمَوْتُ قَالَ لِبَنِيهِ إِذَا أَنَا مُتُّ فَأَحْرِقُونِي ثُمَّ اطْحَنُونِي ثُمَّ ذَرُّونِي فِي الرِّيحِ، فَوَاللَّهِ لَئِنْ قَدَرَ عَلَىَّ رَبِّي لَيُعَذِّبَنِّي عَذَابًا مَا عَذَّبَهُ أَحَدًا. فَلَمَّا مَاتَ فُعِلَ بِهِ ذَلِكَ، فَأَمَرَ اللَّهُ الأَرْضَ، فَقَالَ اجْمَعِي مَا فِيكِ مِنْهُ. فَفَعَلَتْ فَإِذَا هُوَ قَائِمٌ، فَقَالَ مَا حَمَلَكَ عَلَى مَا صَنَعْتَ قَالَ يَا رَبِّ، خَشْيَتُكَ. فَغَفَرَ لَهُ ". وَقَالَ غَيْرُهُ " مَخَافَتُكَ يَا رَبِّ ".
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "A man used to do sinful deeds, and when death came to him, he said to his sons, 'After my death, burn me and then crush me, and scatter the powder in the air, for by Allah, if Allah has control over me, He will give me such a punishment as He has never given to anyone else.'When he died, his sons did accordingly. Allah ordered the earth saying, 'Collect what you hold of his particles.' It did so, and behold! There he was (the man) standing. Allah asked (him), 'What made you do what you did?' He replied, 'O my Lord! I was afraid of You.' So Allah forgave him. " Another narrator said "The man said, Fear of You, O Lord!"
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 3481In-book reference : Book 60, Hadith 148USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 4, Book 55, Hadith 688
حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ خَلِيلٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُسْهِرٍ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " بَيْنَمَا ثَلاَثَةُ نَفَرٍ مِمَّنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكُمْ يَمْشُونَ إِذْ أَصَابَهُمْ مَطَرٌ، فَأَوَوْا إِلَى غَارٍ، فَانْطَبَقَ عَلَيْهِمْ، فَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ لِبَعْضٍ إِنَّهُ وَاللَّهِ يَا هَؤُلاَءِ لاَ يُنْجِيكُمْ إِلاَّ الصِّدْقُ، فَلْيَدْعُ كُلُّ رَجُلٍ مِنْكُمْ بِمَا يَعْلَمُ أَنَّهُ قَدْ صَدَقَ فِيهِ. فَقَالَ وَاحِدٌ مِنْهُمُ اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّهُ كَانَ لِي أَجِيرٌ عَمِلَ لِي عَلَى فَرَقٍ مِنْ أَرُزٍّ، فَذَهَبَ وَتَرَكَهُ، وَأَنِّي عَمَدْتُ إِلَى ذَلِكَ الْفَرَقِ فَزَرَعْتُهُ، فَصَارَ مِنْ أَمْرِهِ أَنِّي اشْتَرَيْتُ مِنْهُ بَقَرًا، وَأَنَّهُ أَتَانِي يَطْلُبُ أَجْرَهُ فَقُلْتُ اعْمِدْ إِلَى تِلْكَ الْبَقَرِ. فَسُقْهَا، فَقَالَ لِي إِنَّمَا لِي عِنْدَكَ فَرَقٌ مِنْ أَرُزٍّ. فَقُلْتُ لَهُ اعْمِدْ إِلَى تِلْكَ الْبَقَرِ فَإِنَّهَا مِنْ ذَلِكَ الْفَرَقِ، فَسَاقَهَا، فَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنِّي فَعَلْتُ ذَلِكَ مِنْ خَشْيَتِكَ، فَفَرِّجْ عَنَّا. فَانْسَاحَتْ عَنْهُمُ الصَّخْرَةُ. فَقَالَ الآخَرُ اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّهُ كَانَ لِي أَبَوَانِ شَيْخَانِ كَبِيرَانِ، فَكُنْتُ آتِيهِمَا كُلَّ لَيْلَةٍ بِلَبَنِ غَنَمٍ لِي، فَأَبْطَأْتُ عَلَيْهِمَا لَيْلَةً فَجِئْتُ وَقَدْ رَقَدَا وَأَهْلِي وَعِيَالِي يَتَضَاغَوْنَ مِنَ الْجُوعِ، فَكُنْتُ لاَ أَسْقِيهِمْ حَتَّى يَشْرَبَ أَبَوَاىَ، فَكَرِهْتُ أَنْ أُوقِظَهُمَا، وَكَرِهْتُ أَنْ أَدَعَهُمَا، فَيَسْتَكِنَّا لِشَرْبَتِهِمَا، فَلَمْ أَزَلْ أَنْتَظِرُ حَتَّى طَلَعَ الْفَجْرُ، فَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنِّي فَعَلْتُ ذَلِكَ مِنْ خَشْيَتِكَ، فَفَرِّجْ عَنَّا. فَانْسَاحَتْ عَنْهُمُ الصَّخْرَةُ، حَتَّى نَظَرُوا إِلَى السَّمَاءِ. فَقَالَ الآخَرُ اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّهُ كَانَ لِي ابْنَةُ عَمٍّ مِنْ أَحَبِّ النَّاسِ إِلَىَّ، وَأَنِّي رَاوَدْتُهَا عَنْ نَفْسِهَا فَأَبَتْ إِلاَّ أَنْ آتِيَهَا بِمِائَةِ دِينَارٍ، فَطَلَبْتُهَا حَتَّى قَدَرْتُ، فَأَتَيْتُهَا بِهَا فَدَفَعْتُهَا إِلَيْهَا، فَأَمْكَنَتْنِي مِنْ نَفْسِهَا، فَلَمَّا قَعَدْتُ بَيْنَ رِجْلَيْهَا، فَقَالَتِ اتَّقِ اللَّهَ وَلاَ تَفُضَّ الْخَاتَمَ إِلاَّ بِحَقِّهِ. فَقُمْتُ وَتَرَكْتُ الْمِائَةَ دِينَارٍ، فَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنِّي فَعَلْتُ ذَلِكَ مِنْ خَشْيَتِكَ فَفَرِّجْ عَنَّا. فَفَرَّجَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ فَخَرَجُوا ".
Ibn 'Umar Narrated from:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Once three persons (from the previous nations) were traveling, and suddenly it started raining and they took shelter in a cave. The entrance of the cave got closed while they were inside. They said to each other, 'O you! Nothing can save you except the truth, so each of you should ask Allah's Help by referring to such a deed as he thinks he did sincerely (i.e. just for gaining Allah's Pleasure).'So one of them said, 'O Allah! You know that I had a laborer who worked for me for one Faraq (i.e. three Sas) of rice, but he departed, leaving it (i.e. his wages). I sowed that Faraq of rice and with its yield I bought cows (for him). Later on when he came to me asking for his wages, I said (to him), 'Go to those cows and drive them away.' He said to me, 'But you have to pay me only a Faraq of rice,' I said to him, 'Go to those cows and take them, for they are the product of that Faraq (of rice).' So he drove them. O Allah! If you consider that I did that for fear of You, then please remove the rock.' The rock shifted a bit from the mouth of the cave.The second one said, 'O Allah, You know that I had old parents whom I used to provide with the milk of my sheep every night. One night I was delayed and when I came, they had slept, while my wife and children were crying with hunger. I used not to let them (i.e. my family) drink unless my parents had drunk first. So I disliked to wake them up and also disliked that they should sleep without drinking it, I kept on waiting (for them to wake) till it dawned. O Allah! If You consider that I did that for fear of you, then please remove the rock.' So the rock shifted and they could see the sky through it.The (third) one said, 'O Allah! You know that I had a cousin (i.e. my paternal uncle's daughter) who was most beloved to me and I sought to seduce her, but she refused, unless I paid her one-hundred Dinars (i.e. gold pieces). So I collected the amount and brought it to her, and she allowed me to sleep with her. But when I sat between her legs, she said, 'Be afraid of Allah, and do not deflower me but legally. 'I got up and left the hundred Dinars (for her). O Allah! If You consider that I did that for fear of you than please remove the rock. So Allah saved them and they came out (of the cave)."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 3465In-book reference : Book 60, Hadith 132USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 4, Book 55, Hadith 671
حَدَّثَنَا عُمَرُ بْنُ حَفْصٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي شَقِيقٌ، قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ كَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَحْكِي نَبِيًّا مِنَ الأَنْبِيَاءِ ضَرَبَهُ قَوْمُهُ فَأَدْمَوْهُ، وَهْوَ يَمْسَحُ الدَّمَ عَنْ وَجْهِهِ، وَيَقُولُ " اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِقَوْمِي فَإِنَّهُمْ لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ ".
`Abdullah Narrated from:
As if I saw the Prophet (ﷺ) talking about one of the prophets whose nation had beaten him and caused him to bleed, while he was cleaning the blood off his face and saying, "O Allah! Forgive my nation, for they have no knowledge."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 3477In-book reference : Book 60, Hadith 144USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 4, Book 55, Hadith 683
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ أَبِي عَدِيٍّ، عَنْ شُعْبَةَ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي الصِّدِّيقِ النَّاجِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " كَانَ فِي بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ رَجُلٌ قَتَلَ تِسْعَةً وَتِسْعِينَ إِنْسَانًا ثُمَّ خَرَجَ يَسْأَلُ، فَأَتَى رَاهِبًا فَسَأَلَهُ، فَقَالَ لَهُ هَلْ مِنْ تَوْبَةٍ قَالَ لاَ. فَقَتَلَهُ، فَجَعَلَ يَسْأَلُ، فَقَالَ لَهُ رَجُلٌ ائْتِ قَرْيَةَ كَذَا وَكَذَا. فَأَدْرَكَهُ الْمَوْتُ فَنَاءَ بِصَدْرِهِ نَحْوَهَا، فَاخْتَصَمَتْ فِيهِ مَلاَئِكَةُ الرَّحْمَةِ وَمَلاَئِكَةُ الْعَذَابِ، فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ إِلَى هَذِهِ أَنْ تَقَرَّبِي. وَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ إِلَى هَذِهِ أَنْ تَبَاعَدِي. وَقَالَ قِيسُوا مَا بَيْنَهُمَا. فَوُجِدَ إِلَى هَذِهِ أَقْرَبُ بِشِبْرٍ، فَغُفِرَ لَهُ ".
Abu Sa'id al-Khudri Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Amongst the men of Bani Israel there was a man who had murdered ninety-nine persons. Then he set out asking (whether his repentance could be accepted or not). He came upon a monk and asked him if his repentance could be accepted. The monk replied in the negative and so the man killed him. He kept on asking till a man advised to go to such and such village.(So he left for it) but death overtook him on the way. While dying, he turned his chest towards that village (where he had hoped his repentance would be accepted), and so the angels of mercy and the angels of punishment quarrelled amongst themselves regarding him.Allah ordered the village (towards which he was going) to come closer to him, and ordered the village (whence he had come), to go far away, and then He ordered the angels to measure the distances between his body and the two villages. So he was found to be one span closer to the village (he was going to). So he was forgiven."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 3470In-book reference : Book 60, Hadith 137USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 4, Book 55, Hadith 676
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْوَلِيدِ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ عُقْبَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْغَافِرِ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " أَنَّ رَجُلاً كَانَ قَبْلَكُمْ رَغَسَهُ اللَّهُ مَالاً فَقَالَ لِبَنِيهِ لَمَّا حُضِرَ أَىَّ أَبٍ كُنْتُ لَكُمْ قَالُوا خَيْرَ أَبٍ. قَالَ فَإِنِّي لَمْ أَعْمَلْ خَيْرًا قَطُّ، فَإِذَا مُتُّ فَأَحْرِقُونِي ثُمَّ اسْحَقُونِي ثُمَّ ذَرُّونِي فِي يَوْمٍ عَاصِفٍ. فَفَعَلُوا، فَجَمَعَهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ، فَقَالَ مَا حَمَلَكَ قَالَ مَخَافَتُكَ. فَتَلَقَّاهُ بِرَحْمَتِهِ ". وَقَالَ مُعَاذٌ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، سَمِعْتُ عُقْبَةَ بْنَ عَبْدِ الْغَافِرِ، سَمِعْتُ أَبَا سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيَّ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم.
Abu Sa'id Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Amongst the people preceding your age, there was a man whom Allah had given a lot of money. While he was in his death-bed, he called his sons and said, 'What type of father have I been to you? They replied, 'You have been a good father.' He said, 'I have never done a single good deed; so when I die, burn me, crush my body, and scatter the resulting ashes on a windy day.' His sons did accordingly, but Allah gathered his particles and asked (him), 'What made you do so?' He replied, "Fear of you.' So Allah bestowed His Mercy upon him. (forgave him).
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 3478In-book reference : Book 60, Hadith 145USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 4, Book 55, Hadith 684
حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ بْنِ عُمَيْرٍ، عَنْ رِبْعِيِّ بْنِ حِرَاشٍ، قَالَ قَالَ عُقْبَةُ لِحُذَيْفَةَ أَلاَ تُحَدِّثُنَا مَا سَمِعْتَ مِنَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم. قَالَ سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ " إِنَّ رَجُلاً حَضَرَهُ الْمَوْتُ، لَمَّا أَيِسَ مِنَ الْحَيَاةِ، أَوْصَى أَهْلَهُ إِذَا مُتُّ فَاجْمَعُوا لِي حَطَبًا كَثِيرًا، ثُمَّ أَوْرُوا نَارًا حَتَّى إِذَا أَكَلَتْ لَحْمِي، وَخَلَصَتْ إِلَى عَظْمِي، فَخُذُوهَا فَاطْحَنُوهَا، فَذَرُّونِي فِي الْيَمِّ فِي يَوْمٍ حَارٍّ أَوْ رَاحٍ. فَجَمَعَهُ اللَّهُ، فَقَالَ لِمَ فَعَلْتَ قَالَ خَشْيَتَكَ. فَغَفَرَ لَهُ ". قَالَ عُقْبَةُ وَأَنَا سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ. حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ وَقَالَ " فِي يَوْمٍ رَاحٍ ".
Rabi bin Hirash Narrated from:
`Uqba said to Hudhaifa, "Won't you narrate to us what you heard from Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) ?" Hudhaifa said, "I heard him saying, 'Death approached a man and when he had no hope of surviving, he said to his family, 'When I die, gather for me much wood and build a fire (to burn me),. When the fire has eaten my flesh and reached my bones, take the bones and grind them and scatter the resulting powder in the sea on a hot (or windy) day.' (That was done.) But Allah collected his particles and asked (him), 'Why did you do so?' He replied, 'For fear of You.' So Allah forgave him."Narrated `Abdu Malik: As above, saying, "On a windy day."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 3479In-book reference : Book 60, Hadith 146USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 4, Book 55, Hadith 685
