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Hope & Thinking Well of Allah

Read published English translations and explanations on this topic. These are related source narrations; their wording and selection may differ from the Arabic site’s short selections. Every card identifies its own source.

Agreed uponAuthentic

Indeed, Allah is more merciful to His servants than this is to her child

Narrator in the source: ‘Umar ibn al-Khattāb reported that the Messenger of Allah

‘Umar ibn al-Khattāb (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: Some captives were brought to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). Then a woman from among the captives was seen pressing milk from her breast to feed [a child], and whenever she found a baby among the captives, she would take him, press him to her chest, and nurse him. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) then said to us: "Do you think this (woman) would throw her child into the fire?" We said: No, not if she can prevent throwing it. He (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Indeed, Allah is more merciful to His servants than this is to her child."
Grade in the source
Authentic
Reported by
Agreed upon
Original Arabic wording
عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ الخَطَّابِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ: قَدِمَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ سَبْيٌ، فَإِذَا امْرَأَةٌ مِنَ السَّبْيِ قَدْ تَحْلُبُ ثَدْيَهَا تَسْقِي، إِذَا وَجَدَتْ صَبِيًّا فِي السَّبْيِ أَخَذَتْهُ، فَأَلْصَقَتْهُ بِبَطْنِهَا وَأَرْضَعَتْهُ، فَقَالَ لَنَا النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «أَتُرَوْنَ هَذِهِ طَارِحَةً وَلَدَهَا فِي النَّارِ؟» قُلْنَا: لاَ، وَهِيَ تَقْدِرُ عَلَى أَلَّا تَطْرَحَهُ، فَقَالَ: «لَلَّهُ أَرْحَمُ بِعِبَادِهِ مِنْ هَذِهِ بِوَلَدِهَا».
Understand this hadith

Some captives from the tribe of Hawāzin were brought to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). Among them was a woman searching for her child. Whenever she found a child, she would take him and breastfeed him due to the pain from milk accumulating in her breast. Eventually, she found her own son among the captives, so she took him, stuck him to her chest, and breastfed him. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) then said to his Companions: Do you think this woman would throw her child into the fire? We said: No, she would never do this willingly. He said: Indeed, Allah is more merciful to His Muslim servants than this woman to her child.

Lessons from the hadith
  • Allah's vast mercy towards His servants, and that He wants for them goodness, Paradise, and salvation from Hellfire.
  • Benefiting from events and linking them to guidance and teaching.
  • A believer should have good expectations of Allah and not despair, as long as he fears Allah and remains steadfast in his religion, for Allah Almighty is the Possessor of vast mercy.
References (original Arabic)

صحيح البخاري (8/ 8) (5999). صحيح مسلم (4/ 2109) (2754). نزهة المتقين شرح رياض الصالحين، لمجموعة من الباحثين (1/ 380). تطريز رياض الصالحين، لفيصل آل مبارك (ص284).

Narrated by Muslim - Narrated by Bukhari & MuslimAuthentic hadith

Allah divided mercy into one hundred parts. He retained with Him ninety-nine parts and sent down to earth one part. Because of this one part, creatures show mercy towards each other, so much so that an animal lifts its hoof away from its youngster lest it should hurt it

Narrator in the source: Abu Hurayrah reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah say:

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Allah made mercy into one hundred parts. He retained with Him ninety-nine parts and sent down to earth one part. Because of this one part, creatures show mercy towards each other, so much so that an animal lifts its hoof away from its youngster lest it should hurt it." Another narration reads: "Allah, the Almighty, has one hundred mercies, of which He sent down one mercy among mankind, jinn, animals, and vermin. It is by this mercy that they show compassion towards each other and are merciful to each other; and it is by this mercy that the beast is affectionate towards its offspring. Allah, the Almighty, deferred ninety-nine mercies with which He will bestow mercy on His slaves on the Day of Judgment." Salmān Al-Fārisi (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Allah, the Almighty, has one hundred mercies, out of which one mercy is used by His creatures to be merciful towards one another, while the ninety-nine mercies are kept for the Day of Judgment." Another narration reads: "Allah, the Almighty, created one hundred mercies on the Day He created the heavens and the earth. Each mercy can fill what is between the heavens and the earth. He placed one (mercy) on earth, and it is with it that a mother has compassion for her child and animals and birds have compassion for one another. On the Day of Judgment, He will complete them (the ninety-nine mercies) with that mercy."
Grade in the source
Authentic hadith
Reported by
Narrated by Muslim - Narrated by Bukhari & Muslim
Original Arabic wording
عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال: سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: «جَعَلَ اللهُ الرحمةَ مائة جُزْءٍ، فَأَمْسَكَ عِنْدَهُ تِسْعَةً وَتِسْعِينَ، وأَنْزَلَ في الأَرْضِ جُزْءًا وَاحِدًا، فَمِنْ ذَلِكَ الجُزْءِ يَتَرَاحَمُ الخَلَائِقُ، حتى تَرْفَعَ الدَّابَّةُ حَافِرَهَا عَنْ وَلَدِهَا خَشْيَةَ أَنْ تُصِيبَهُ». وفي رواية «إِنَّ للهِ تعالى مئةُ رحمةٍ، أَنْزَلَ منها رحمةً واحدةً بَيْنَ الجِنِّ والإنسِ والبَهَائِمِ والهَوَامِّ، فَبِهَا يَتَعَاطَفُونَ، وبها يَتَرَاحَمُونَ، وبِهَا تَعْطِفُ الوَحْشُ على وَلَدِهَا، وأَخَّرَ اللهُ تعالى تِسْعًا وتِسْعِينَ رحمةً يَرْحَمُ بِهَا عِبَادَهُ يومَ القِيَامَةِ». وعن سلمان الفارسي رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : «إِنَّ للهِ تعالى مئةُ رحمةٍ فمنها رحمةٌ يَتَرَاحَمُ بها الخَلْقُ بَيْنَهُمْ، وتِسْعٌ وتِسْعُونَ لِيَومِ القِيَامَةِ». وفي رواية: «إِنَّ اللهَ تَعَالَى خَلَقَ يَوْمَ خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ والأَرْضَ مئةَ رحمةٍ كُلُّ رحمةٍ طِبَاقَ مَا بَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ إلى الأَرْضِ، فَجَعَلَ منها في الأَرْضِ رَحْمَةً فبها تَعْطِفُ الوَالِدَةُ على وَلَدِهَا، والوَحْشُ والطَّيْرُ بَعْضُهَا عَلَى بَعْضٍ، فإذا كانَ يومُ القيامةِ أَكْمَلَهَا بِهَذِه الرحمةِ».
Understand this hadith

Allah, Blessed and Exalted, created mercy of one hundred parts. He sent one mercy down to this world and withheld ninety-nine parts for the Day of Judgment. Because of this single mercy, all of the creatures from among the humans, Jinn, animals, and insects, are merciful to one another. Even the horse that is known for its swiftness lifts its hoof away from its youngster lest it should hurt it. Because of this mercy, beasts are kind to their youngsters. Allah, Blessed and Exalted be He, has retained ninety-nine mercies to have mercy upon His slaves on the Day of Judgment. Second Hadīth: Allah, Blessed and Exalted, created one hundred mercies on the Day He created the heavens and the earth. Each mercy can fill the distance that is between the heavens and the earth. He placed one of them on earth, through which a mother has compassion for her child and animals and birds have compassion for one another. Then, on the Day of Judgment, Allah, the Lord of the worlds, will complete it with the ninety-nine mercies. So if all the great blessings of Allah, the Almighty, that He bestows on man in this world, which is basically built on anguish, are caused by one mercy, how then would the effect of one hundred mercies be in the Hereafter, which is the abode of eternity and recompense?!

References (original Arabic)

دليل الفالحين لطرق رياض الصالحين، لابن علان، نشر دار الكتاب العربي. نزهة المتقين شرح رياض الصالحين، لمجموعة من المؤلفين، نشر: مؤسسة الرسالة، الطبعة: الرابعة عشر، 1407ه 1987م. كنوز رياض الصالحين، بإشراف العمار، نشر: دار كنوز إشبيليا، الطبعة: الأولى، 1430ه 2009م. بهجة الناظرين شرح رياض الصالحين، للهلالي، نشر: دار ابن الجوزي. صحيح البخاري، نشر: دار طوق النجاة (مصورة عن السلطانية بإضافة ترقيم محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي)، الطبعة: الأولى، 1422ه. صحيح مسلم، تحقيق: محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي، نشر: دار إحياء التراث العربي – بيروت.

Narrated by Bukhari & MuslimAuthentic hadith

Allah is happier with the repentance of His slave than one of you is with finding his riding camel after having lost it in a desert

Narrator in the source: Anas

Anas ibn Mālik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Allah is happier with the repentance of His slave than one of you is with finding his riding camel after having lost it in a desert." Another narration reads: "Verily, Allah is happier with the repentance of His slave when he turns in repentance to Him than one of you who was on his camel in a desert and it got lost and was carrying his provision of food and drink. He, having lost all hope (of finding it), lies down in the shade of a tree feeling hopeless; when all of a sudden he finds it (his camel) standing before him. He takes hold of its reins and then out of boundless joy blurts out: 'O Allah, You are my slave and I am Your Lord!' He makes this mistake out of extreme joy."
Grade in the source
Authentic hadith
Reported by
Narrated by Bukhari & Muslim
Original Arabic wording
عن أنس بن مالك رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : «للَّهُ أَفْرَحُ بِتَوْبَةِ عَبْدِهِ مِنْ أَحَدِكُمْ، سَقَطَ عَلَى بَعِيرِهِ، وَقَدْ أَضَلَّهُ فِي أَرْضِ فَلاَةٍ». وفي رواية: «لَلَّهُ أَشَدُّ فَرَحًا بِتَوْبَةِ عَبْدِهِ حِينَ يَتُوبُ إِلَيْهِ، مِنْ أَحَدِكُمْ كَانَ عَلَى رَاحِلَتِهِ بِأَرْضِ فَلَاةٍ، فَانْفَلَتَتْ مِنْهُ وَعَلَيْهَا طَعَامُهُ وَشَرَابُهُ، فَأَيِسَ مِنْهَا، فَأَتَى شَجَرَةً، فَاضْطَجَعَ فِي ظِلِّهَا، وقَدْ أَيِسَ مِنْ رَاحِلَتِهِ، فَبَيْنَا هُوَ كَذَلِكَ إِذَا هُوَ بِهَا، قَائِمَةً عِنْدَهُ، فَأَخَذَ بِخِطَامِهَا، ثُمَّ قَالَ مِنْ شِدَّةِ الْفَرَحِ: اللهُمَّ أَنْتَ عَبْدِي وَأَنَا رَبُّكَ! أَخْطَأَ مِنْ شِدَّةِ الْفَرَح».
Understand this hadith

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informs us that Allah is extremely pleased with His slave's return to Him by obeying Him and fulfilling His commands, sincerely from his heart. His pleasure is more than the pleasure of a person who was in a desert with no one around him – no water, food, or people – and he lost his camel. He looked for it but failed to find it. So he went to lie under a tree awaiting death. He lost hope in finding his camel and lost hope in life, for his food and drink were on the back of his lost camel. Then suddenly, in this state of hopelessness, he finds his camel right in front of him, its reins attached to the same tree he slept beneath. What is comparable to such happiness? No one can truly relate to such joy except one who was in the same situation. Indeed, it is great joy; joy of life after death. For this reason he took hold of its reins and cried, "O Allah, You are my slave and I am Your Lord!" He wanted to praise Allah saying: "O Allah, You are my Lord and I am Your slave!" but due to his extreme joy, he confused his words.

References (original Arabic)

-نزهة المتقين شرح رياض الصالحين، نشر: مؤسسة الرسالة، الطبعة: الرابعة عشر، 1407هـ - 1987م. -دليل الفالحين لطرق رياض الصالحين، لابن علان، نشر دار الكتاب العربي. -شرح رياض الصالحين، لابن عثيمين، نشر: دار الوطن للنشر، الرياض، الطبعة: 1426هـ. -كنوز رياض الصالحين، نشر: دار كنوز إشبيليا، الطبعة: الأولى، 1430ه 2009م. -تطريز رياض الصالحين، لفيصل الحريملي، نشر: دار العاصمة، الرياض، الطبعة: الأولى، 1423هـ. - 2002م. -بهجة الناظرين شرح رياض الصالحين، للهلالي، نشر: دار ابن الجوزي. -المعجم الوسيط، نشر: دار إحياء التراث العربي، بيروت – لبنان، الطبعة: الثانية. -صحيح البخاري، نشر: دار طوق النجاة (مصورة عن السلطانية بإضافة ترقيم ترقيم محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي)، الطبعة: الأولى، 1422هـ. -صحيح مسلم، تحقيق: محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي، نشر: دار إحياء التراث العربي – بيروت.

Narrated by At-TirmidhiHasan

O son of Adam, so long as you call upon Me and ask of Me, I shall forgive you for what you have done, and I shall not mind. O son of Adam, were your sins to reach the clouds of the sky and were you then to ask forgiveness of Me, I shall forgive you

Narrator in the source: Anas

Anas ibn Mālik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) say: "Allah Almighty said: 'O son of Adam, so long as you call upon Me and ask of Me, I shall forgive you for what you have done, and I shall not mind. O son of Adam, were your sins to reach the clouds of the sky and were you then to ask forgiveness of Me, I shall forgive you. O son of Adam, were you to come to Me with sins nearly as great as the earth and were you then to meet Me, ascribing no partner to Me, I shall bring you forgiveness nearly as great as it is.'"
Grade in the source
Hasan
Reported by
Narrated by At-Tirmidhi
Original Arabic wording
عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ رضي الله عنه قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: «قَالَ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى: يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ إِنَّكَ مَا دَعَوْتَنِي وَرَجَوْتَنِي غَفَرْتُ لَكَ عَلَى مَا كَانَ فِيكَ وَلاَ أُبَالِي، يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ لَوْ بَلَغَتْ ذُنُوبُكَ عَنَانَ السَّمَاءِ ثُمَّ اسْتَغْفَرْتَنِي غَفَرْتُ لَكَ، وَلاَ أُبَالِي، يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ إِنَّكَ لَوْ أَتَيْتَنِي بِقُرَابِ الأَرْضِ خَطَايَا ثُمَّ لَقِيتَنِي لاَ تُشْرِكُ بِي شَيْئًا لأَتَيْتُكَ بِقُرَابِهَا مَغْفِرَةً».
Understand this hadith

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informed that Allah Almighty said in a Qudsi Hadīth: O son of Adam, as long as you supplicate Me and hope for My mercy and do not despair, I will conceal your sin and eliminate it, not minding about that, even if the sin is one of the major ones. O son of Adam, if your sins grow so numerous that they fill what is between the heavens and the earth, extending over its different corners and areas, and then you ask forgiveness of Me, I shall erase and forgive all of them, not caring about how numerous they are. O son of Adam, if you come to Me after death with sins and misdeeds nearly as great as the earth, and you have died as a monotheist, not associating anything with Me, I will meet these sins and misdeeds with forgiveness as great as the earth, for I am vast in forgiveness and I forgive all sins except for Shirk.

Lessons from the hadith
  • The Hadīth shows Allah's vast mercy, forgiveness, and bounty.
  • It highlights the merit of Tawhīd and that Allah forgives the sins and misdeeds of the monotheists.
  • It demonstrates the danger of Shirk and that Allah does not forgive the polytheists.
  • Ibn Rajab said: This Hadīth comprises the three means whereby forgiveness of sins can be attained: First: supplication along with hope. Second: asking for forgiveness and repentance. Third: dying upon Tawhīd.
  • This Hadīth is part of what the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) narrated from his Lord, and it is called a Qudsi or divine Hadīth. Its wording and meaning are from Allah; however, it does not have the unique characteristics of the Qur'an that include reciting it as a form of worship, getting purified for it, presenting it as a challenge, its miraculousness, etc.
  • Sins are of three types: First: Associating partners with Allah; Allah does not forgive that. Allah Almighty says: {Whoever associates any partners with Allah, Allah has forbidden Paradise for him.} Second: A person doing wrong to himself through the sins and misdeeds committed between him and his Lord. Allah Almighty pardons and forgives that, if He so wills. Third: Sins of which Allah leaves nothing, and that is people's oppression to one another; in this regard, legal retribution is necessary.
References (original Arabic)

سنن الترمذي (5/ 509) (3540). التحفة الربانية في شرح الأربعين حديثًا النووية، لإسماعيل الأنصاري (ص93). شرح الأربعين النووية، لابن عثيمين (ص397).

Narrated by MuslimAuthentic hadith

Who is that who swears that I will not forgive so-and-so? Indeed, I have forgiven him and rendered worthless your deeds

Narrator in the source: Jundub ibn ‘Abdullah

Jundub ibn ‘Abdullāh (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "A man said: 'By Allah, Allah will not forgive so-and-so.' Thereupon, Allah said: 'Who is that who swears that I will not forgive so-and-so? Indeed, I have forgiven him and rendered worthless your deeds.'" In a similar Hadīth reported by Abu Hurayrah: ''The sayer was a worshiper.'' Abu Hurayrah said: ''He said a word that ruined his life and Hereafter.’'
Grade in the source
Authentic hadith
Reported by
Narrated by Muslim
Original Arabic wording
عن جندب بن عبد الله رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : "قال رجل: والله لا يغفر الله لفلان، فقال الله: من ذا الذي يتألى عليَّ أن لا أغفر لفلان؟ إني قد غفرت له، وأحبطت عملك". وفي حديث أبي هريرة: أن القائل رجل عابد، قال أبو هريرة: "تكلم بكلمة أوبقت دنياه وآخرته".
Understand this hadith

Warning against the dangers of the tongue, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) says that a man once swore that Allah would not forgive a sinner. It was as if he was passing a judgment that limits Allah's authority, believing in his credit and the sinner's disgrace. His conceit implies his rudeness toward Allah, a practice that subjected him to a miserable fate in life and the Hereafter.

References (original Arabic)

1- فتح المجيد شرح كتاب التوحيد، مطبعة السنة المحمدية، القاهرة، مصر، الطبعة: السابعة، 1377هـ - 1957م. 2- القول المفيد على كتاب التوحيد، دار ابن الجوزي، المملكة العربية السعودية، الطبعة: الثانية, محرم، 1424ه. 3- الملخص في شرح كتاب التوحيد، دار العاصمة، الرياض، الطبعة: الأولى، 1422هـ - 2001م. 4- الجديد في شرح كتاب التوحيد، مكتبة السوادي، جدة، المملكة العربية السعودية، الطبعة: الخامسة، 1424هـ - 2003م. 5- التمهيد لشرح كتاب التوحيد، دار التوحيد، تاريخ النشر: 1424هـ. 6- صحيح مسلم، المحقق: محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي، الناشر: دار إحياء التراث العربي – بيروت.

Narrated by Bukhari - Narrated by Bukhari & MuslimAuthentic hadith

If the slave draws closer to Me by a hand-span, I shall draw closer to him by a cubit; and if he draws closer to Me by a cubit, I shall draw closer to him by the span of two outstretched arms. If he comes to Me walking, I shall come to him running

Narrator in the source: أنس بن مالك وأبي هريرة

Anas ibn Mālik and Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with both of them) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said that Allah, the Almighty, said: "If the slave draws closer to Me by a hand-span, I shall draw closer to him by a cubit; and if he draws closer to Me by a cubit, I shall draw closer to him by the span of two outstretched arms. If he comes to Me walking, I shall come to him running."
Grade in the source
Authentic hadith
Reported by
Narrated by Bukhari - Narrated by Bukhari & Muslim
Original Arabic wording
عن أنس بن مالك وأبي هريرة رضي الله عنهما عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم فيما يرويه عن ربه عز وجل قال: «إذا تَقَرَّبَ العبدُ إليَّ شِبْرًا تَقَرَّبْتُ إليه ذِرَاعًا، وإذا تَقَرَّبَ إليَّ ذِرَاعًا تَقَرَّبْتُ مِنْهُ بَاعًا، وإذا أتاني يمشي أَتَيْتُهُ هَرْوَلَةً».
Understand this hadith

Whoever draws near to Allah with acts of obedience, even if small, Allah will multiply them and reward him greatly. The more he obeys Allah, the more Allah increases his reward and hastens to him with His mercy and favor. This interpretation is based on the premise that this Hadīth is not one about the Attributes of Allah, as is the approach of a group of the scholars of Ahl As-Sunnah Wa al-Jamā‘ah who affirm the divine attributes, including Ibn Taymiyyah. Another group affirmed the attribute of running for Allah, the Almighty, without asking 'how'.

References (original Arabic)

- صحيح البخاري، للإمام أبي عبد الله محمد بن إسماعيل البخاري، عناية محمد زهير الناصر، دار طوق النجاة، الطبعة الأولى، 1422هـ. - صحيح مسلم، للإمام مسلم بن الحجاج، حققه ورقمه محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي، دار عالم الكتب، الرياض، الطبعة الأولى، 1417هـ. - نزهة المتقين بشرح رياض الصالحين، تأليف مصطفى سعيد الخن -مصطفى البغا- محي الدين مستو-علي الشربجي- محمد أمين لطفي- مؤسسة الرسالة، بيروت -لبنان-الطبعة الرابعة عشرة، 1407هـ. - تطريز رياض الصالحين، تأليف فيصل آل مبارك، تحقيق د. عبد العزيز آل حمد، دار العاصمة-الرياض، الطبعة الأولى، 1423هـ. - مجموع الفتاوى، لابن تيمية، المحقق: عبد الرحمن بن محمد بن قاسم، مجمع الملك فهد لطباعة المصحف الشريف، المدينة النبوية، المملكة العربية السعودية، عام النشر: 1416هـ/1995م. - بيان تلبيس الجهمية في تأسيس بدعهم الكلامية، تقي ابن تيمية الدمشقي، المحقق: مجموعة من المحققين، مجمع الملك فهد لطباعة المصحف الشريف، الطبعة: الأولى، 1426هـ.

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