Seeking Forgiveness from Allah
Total Hadiths 46
Divine Mercy: Seeking Forgiveness from Allah in Hadith
Seeking forgiveness from Allah is a cornerstone of Islamic spiritual life, highlighting His profound attribute of mercy. In these powerful narrations passed down by Abu Ayyub Ansari as his death drew near, the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) explains the vastness of divine pardon. The Prophet (ﷺ) explicitly stated that if human beings did not commit sins, Allah would have replaced them or brought into existence a new creation that would commit sins and then seek forgiveness from Allah so that He could grant them pardon. These authentic texts emphasize that making mistakes and turning back to the Almighty in sincere repentance is a natural part of human existence, showcasing Allah's continuous willingness to forgive.
حَدَّثَنَاهُ عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُعَاذٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي ح، وَحَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو دَاوُدَ، وَعَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ مَهْدِيٍّ كُلُّهُمْ عَنْ شُعْبَةَ، فِي هَذَا الإِسْنَادِ .
This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Shu'ba with the same chain of transmitters.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2702cIn-book reference : Book 48, Hadith 54USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 35, Hadith 6524
وَحَدَّثَنَاهُ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ بْنُ الصَّبَّاحِ الْمِسْمَعِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، فِي هَذَا الإِسْنَادِ .
This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Shu'ba with the same chain of transmitters.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2719bIn-book reference : Book 48, Hadith 95USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 35, Hadith 6564
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رَافِعٍ، وَعَبْدُ بْنُ حُمَيْدٍ، قَالَ عَبْدٌ أَخْبَرَنَا وَقَالَ ابْنُ رَافِعٍ، - وَاللَّفْظُ لَهُ - حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، قَالَ قَالَ لِيَ الزُّهْرِيُّ أَلاَ أُحَدِّثُكَ بِحَدِيثَيْنِ عَجِيبَيْنِ قَالَ الزُّهْرِيُّ أَخْبَرَنِي حُمَيْدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " أَسْرَفَ رَجُلٌ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ فَلَمَّا حَضَرَهُ الْمَوْتُ أَوْصَى بَنِيهِ فَقَالَ إِذَا أَنَا مُتُّ فَأَحْرِقُونِي ثُمَّ اسْحَقُونِي ثُمَّ اذْرُونِي فِي الرِّيحِ فِي الْبَحْرِ فَوَاللَّهِ لَئِنْ قَدَرَ عَلَىَّ رَبِّي لَيُعَذِّبُنِي عَذَابًا مَا عَذَّبَهُ بِهِ أَحَدًا . قَالَ فَفَعَلُوا ذَلِكَ بِهِ فَقَالَ لِلأَرْضِ أَدِّي مَا أَخَذْتِ . فَإِذَا هُوَ قَائِمٌ فَقَالَ لَهُ مَا حَمَلَكَ عَلَى مَا صَنَعْتَ فَقَالَ خَشْيَتُكَ يَا رَبِّ - أَوْ قَالَ - مَخَافَتُكَ . فَغَفَرَ لَهُ بِذَلِكَ " . قَالَ الزُّهْرِيُّ وَحَدَّثَنِي حُمَيْدٌ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " دَخَلَتِ امْرَأَةٌ النَّارَ فِي هِرَّةٍ رَبَطَتْهَا فَلاَ هِيَ أَطْعَمَتْهَا وَلاَ هِيَ أَرْسَلَتْهَا تَأْكُلُ مِنْ خَشَاشِ الأَرْضِ حَتَّى مَاتَتْ هَزْلاً " . قَالَ الزُّهْرِيُّ ذَلِكَ لِئَلاَّ يَتَّكِلَ رَجُلٌ وَلاَ يَيْأَسَ رَجُلٌ .
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying that a person committed sin beyond measure and when he was going to die, he left this will: (When I die), bum my dead body and then cast them (the ashes) to the wind and in the ocean. By Allah, if my Lord takes hold of me, He would torment me as He has not tormented anyone else. They did as he had asked them to do. He (the Lord) said to the earth: Return what you have taken. And he was thus restored to his (original form). He (Allah) said to him: What prompted you to do this? He said: My Lord, it was Thine fear or Thine awe, and Allah pardoned him because of this. Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying that a woman was thrown into Hell-Fire because of a cat whom she had tied and did not provide it with food. nor did she set it free to eat vermin of the earth until it died emaciated. Az-Zuhri said: (These two ahadith) show that a person should neither feel confident (of getting into Paradise) because of his deeds, nor should he lose (all hopes) of getting into Paradise.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2756b, 2619bIn-book reference : Book 50, Hadith 29USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 37, Hadith 6638
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رَافِعٍ، وَعَبْدُ بْنُ حُمَيْدٍ، قَالَ عَبْدٌ أَخْبَرَنَا وَقَالَ ابْنُ رَافِعٍ، - وَاللَّفْظُ لَهُ - حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، قَالَ قَالَ لِيَ الزُّهْرِيُّ أَلاَ أُحَدِّثُكَ بِحَدِيثَيْنِ عَجِيبَيْنِ قَالَ الزُّهْرِيُّ أَخْبَرَنِي حُمَيْدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " أَسْرَفَ رَجُلٌ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ فَلَمَّا حَضَرَهُ الْمَوْتُ أَوْصَى بَنِيهِ فَقَالَ إِذَا أَنَا مُتُّ فَأَحْرِقُونِي ثُمَّ اسْحَقُونِي ثُمَّ اذْرُونِي فِي الرِّيحِ فِي الْبَحْرِ فَوَاللَّهِ لَئِنْ قَدَرَ عَلَىَّ رَبِّي لَيُعَذِّبُنِي عَذَابًا مَا عَذَّبَهُ بِهِ أَحَدًا . قَالَ فَفَعَلُوا ذَلِكَ بِهِ فَقَالَ لِلأَرْضِ أَدِّي مَا أَخَذْتِ . فَإِذَا هُوَ قَائِمٌ فَقَالَ لَهُ مَا حَمَلَكَ عَلَى مَا صَنَعْتَ فَقَالَ خَشْيَتُكَ يَا رَبِّ - أَوْ قَالَ - مَخَافَتُكَ . فَغَفَرَ لَهُ بِذَلِكَ " . قَالَ الزُّهْرِيُّ وَحَدَّثَنِي حُمَيْدٌ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " دَخَلَتِ امْرَأَةٌ النَّارَ فِي هِرَّةٍ رَبَطَتْهَا فَلاَ هِيَ أَطْعَمَتْهَا وَلاَ هِيَ أَرْسَلَتْهَا تَأْكُلُ مِنْ خَشَاشِ الأَرْضِ حَتَّى مَاتَتْ هَزْلاً " . قَالَ الزُّهْرِيُّ ذَلِكَ لِئَلاَّ يَتَّكِلَ رَجُلٌ وَلاَ يَيْأَسَ رَجُلٌ .
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying that a person committed sin beyond measure and when he was going to die, he left this will: (When I die), bum my dead body and then cast them (the ashes) to the wind and in the ocean. By Allah, if my Lord takes hold of me, He would torment me as He has not tormented anyone else. They did as he had asked them to do. He (the Lord) said to the earth: Return what you have taken. And he was thus restored to his (original form). He (Allah) said to him: What prompted you to do this? He said: My Lord, it was Thine fear or Thine awe, and Allah pardoned him because of this. Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying that a woman was thrown into Hell-Fire because of a cat whom she had tied and did not provide it with food. nor did she set it free to eat vermin of the earth until it died emaciated. Az-Zuhri said: (These two ahadith) show that a person should neither feel confident (of getting into Paradise) because of his deeds, nor should he lose (all hopes) of getting into Paradise.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2756b, 2619bIn-book reference : Book 50, Hadith 29USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 37, Hadith 6638
وَحَدَّثَنَاهُ يَحْيَى بْنُ حَبِيبٍ الْحَارِثِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا مُعْتَمِرُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ، قَالَ قَالَ لِي أَبِي حَدَّثَنَا قَتَادَةُ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ مُوسَى، حَدَّثَنَا شَيْبَانُ، بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ ح وَحَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْوَلِيدِ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ، كِلاَهُمَا عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، ذَكَرُوا جَمِيعًا بِإِسْنَادِ شُعْبَةَ نَحْوَ حَدِيثِهِ وَفِي حَدِيثِ شَيْبَانَ وَأَبِي عَوَانَةَ " أَنَّ رَجُلاً مِنَ النَّاسِ رَغَسَهُ اللَّهُ مَالاً وَوَلَدًا " . وَفِي حَدِيثِ التَّيْمِيِّ " فَإِنَّهُ لَمْ يَبْتَئِرْ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ خَيْرًا " . قَالَ فَسَّرَهَا قَتَادَةُ لَمْ يَدَّخِرْ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ خَيْرًا . وَفِي حَدِيثِ شَيْبَانَ " فَإِنَّهُ وَاللَّهِ مَا ابْتَأَرَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ خَيْرًا " . وَفِي حَدِيثِ أَبِي عَوَانَةَ " مَا امْتَأَرَ " . بِالْمِيمِ .
This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Shu'ba with the chain of transmitters but with a slight variation of wording and Qatada explained the word" lam yasiru" as: " I find no good in store for rxie in the eye of Allah."
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2757bIn-book reference : Book 50, Hadith 32USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 37, Hadith 6641
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ مُرَّةَ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عُبَيْدَةَ، يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ يَبْسُطُ يَدَهُ بِاللَّيْلِ لِيَتُوبَ مُسِيءُ النَّهَارِ وَيَبْسُطُ يَدَهُ بِالنَّهَارِ لِيَتُوبَ مُسِيءُ اللَّيْلِ حَتَّى تَطْلُعَ الشَّمْسُ مِنْ مَغْرِبِهَا " . وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو دَاوُدَ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ نَحْوَهُ .
Abu Musa reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying that Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, Stretches out His Hand during the night so that the people may repent for the fault committed from dawn till dusk and He stretches out His Hand during the day so that the people may repent for the fault committed from dusk to dawn. (He would accept repentance) before the sun rises in the west (before the Day of Resurrection). A hadith like this has been narrated on the authority of Shu'ba with the same chain of transmitters.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2759a, bIn-book reference : Book 50, Hadith 36USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 37, Hadith 6644
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ مُرَّةَ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عُبَيْدَةَ، يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ يَبْسُطُ يَدَهُ بِاللَّيْلِ لِيَتُوبَ مُسِيءُ النَّهَارِ وَيَبْسُطُ يَدَهُ بِالنَّهَارِ لِيَتُوبَ مُسِيءُ اللَّيْلِ حَتَّى تَطْلُعَ الشَّمْسُ مِنْ مَغْرِبِهَا " . وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو دَاوُدَ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ نَحْوَهُ .
Abu Musa reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying that Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, Stretches out His Hand during the night so that the people may repent for the fault committed from dawn till dusk and He stretches out His Hand during the day so that the people may repent for the fault committed from dusk to dawn. (He would accept repentance) before the sun rises in the west (before the Day of Resurrection). A hadith like this has been narrated on the authority of Shu'ba with the same chain of transmitters.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2759a, bIn-book reference : Book 50, Hadith 36USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 37, Hadith 6644
حَدَّثَنَا الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ حُرَيْثٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ أَبِي حَازِمٍ، عَنْ كَثِيرِ بْنِ زَيْدٍ، عَنْ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ رَبِيعَةَ، عَنْ شَدَّادِ بْنِ أَوْسٍ، رضى الله عنه أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ لَهُ " أَلاَ أَدُلُّكَ عَلَى سَيِّدِ الاِسْتِغْفَارِ اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ رَبِّي لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ خَلَقْتَنِي وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ وَأَنَا عَلَى عَهْدِكَ وَوَعْدِكَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُ أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا صَنَعْتُ وَأَبُوءُ إِلَيْكَ بِنِعْمَتِكَ عَلَىَّ وَأَعْتَرِفُ بِذُنُوبِي فَاغْفِرْ لِي ذُنُوبِي إِنَّهُ لاَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ . لاَ يَقُولُهَا أَحَدُكُمْ حِينَ يُمْسِي فَيَأْتِي عَلَيْهِ قَدَرٌ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُصْبِحَ إِلاَّ وَجَبَتْ لَهُ الْجَنَّةُ وَلاَ يَقُولُهَا حِينَ يُصْبِحُ فَيَأْتِي عَلَيْهِ قَدَرٌ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُمْسِيَ إِلاَّ وَجَبَتْ لَهُ الْجَنَّةُ " . قَالَ وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ وَابْنِ عُمَرَ وَابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ وَابْنِ أَبْزَى وَبُرَيْدَةَ رضى الله عنهم . قَالَ وَهَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ . وَعَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ أَبِي حَازِمٍ هُوَ ابْنُ أَبِي حَازِمٍ الزَّاهِدِ . وَقَدْ رُوِيَ هَذَا الْحَدِيثُ مِنْ غَيْرِ هَذَا الْوَجْهِ عَنْ شَدَّادِ بْنِ أَوْسٍ رضى الله عنه .
Shaddad bin Aws narrated that: The Prophet (ﷺ) Said To Him: “Should I Not Direct You To The Chief Of Supplications For Forgiveness? ‘O Allah, You Are My Lord, There Is None Worthy Of Worship Except You, You Created Me And I Am Your Slave. I Am Adhering To Your Covenant And Your Promise As Much As I Am Able To, I Seek Refuge In You From The Evil Of What I Have Done. I Admit To You Your Blessings Upon Me, And I Admit To My Sins. So Forgive Me, For There Is None Who Can Forgive Sins Except You (Allāhumma Anta Rabbī Lā Ilāha Illā Anta, Khalaqtanī Wa Ana `Abduka, Wa Ana `Alā `Ahdika Wa Wa`Dika Ma-StaṭA`Tu. A`Ūdhu Bika Min Sharri Ma ṢAna`Tu, Wa Abū'U Ilayka Bini`Matika `Alayya Wa A`Tarifu Bidhunūbī Faghfirlī Dhunūbī Innahu Lā Yaghfirudh-Dhunūba Illā Ant).’ None Of You Says It When He Reaches The Evening, And A Decree Comes Upon Him Before He Reaches Morning, Except That Paradise Becomes Obligatory Upon Him. And None Says It When He Reaches The Morning, And A Decree Comes Upon Him Before He Reaches Evening, Except That Paradise Becomes Obligatory For Him.”
[1] Meaning "death." ( Tuhfat Al-Ahwadhi ).Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3393In-book reference : Book 48, Hadith 24English translation : Vol. 6, Book 45, Hadith 3393
حَدَّثَنَا نَصْرُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الْكُوفِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا الْمُحَارِبِيُّ، عَنْ مَالِكِ بْنِ مِغْوَلٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سُوقَةَ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ كَانَ يُعَدُّ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي الْمَجْلِسِ الْوَاحِدِ مِائَةُ مَرَّةٍ مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ يَقُومَ " رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَتُبْ عَلَىَّ إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ التَّوَّابُ الْغَفُورُ " . حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي عُمَرَ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سُوقَةَ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ نَحْوَهُ بِمَعْنَاهُ . قَالَ هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ غَرِيبٌ .
Ibn Umar said: “In One Sitting Of The Messenger Of Allah (ﷺ), One Could Count That He Said A Hundred Time, Before He Would Get Up: ‘O My Lord, Forgive Me, And Accept My Repentance. Verily, You Are The Oft-Returning, The Most Forgiving (Rabbighfirlī Watub `Alayya Innaka Antat-Tawwābul-Ghafūr).’”
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3434In-book reference : Book 48, Hadith 65English translation : Vol. 6, Book 45, Hadith 3434
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْيَمَانِ، أَخْبَرَنَا شُعَيْبٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي أَبُو سَلَمَةَ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " وَاللَّهِ إِنِّي لأَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْهِ فِي الْيَوْمِ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ سَبْعِينَ مَرَّةً ".
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) saying." By Allah! I ask for forgiveness from Allah and turn to Him in repentance more than seventy times a day."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 6307In-book reference : Book 80, Hadith 4USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 8, Book 75, Hadith 319
