Is this hadith authentic?

This hadith is graded Sahih. Sahih hadiths are considered the most authentic grade in hadith classification.

Which collection is this hadith from?

This hadith is from Sahih Muslim, which contains 7,459 hadiths across 57 books. It is hadith number 6785 in the Book of The Book of Repentance.

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#6784

#6785

Sahih Muslim

#6786

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Sahih Muslim #6785

Q: What is Sahih Muslim 6785 about?

This hadith from Sahih Muslim (Book of The Book of Repentance), narrated by Harith b. Suwaid said:, states: "I went to see 'Abdullah to inquire about his health as he was sick and he narrated to us a hadith of Allahs Messenger (ﷺ). He heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: Allah is more pleased with the repe…"

The Book of Repentance

Sahih

The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.

حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَإِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، - وَاللَّفْظُ لِعُثْمَانَ - قَالَ إِسْحَاقُ أَخْبَرَنَا وَقَالَ، عُثْمَانُ حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ عُمَارَةَ بْنِ عُمَيْرٍ، عَنِ الْحَارِثِ بْنِ، سُوَيْدٍ قَالَ دَخَلْتُ عَلَى عَبْدِ اللَّهِ أَعُودُهُ وَهُوَ مَرِيضٌ فَحَدَّثَنَا بِحَدِيثَيْنِ حَدِيثًا عَنْ نَفْسِهِ وَحَدِيثًا عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ ‏ "‏ لَلَّهُ أَشَدُّ فَرَحًا بِتَوْبَةِ عَبْدِهِ الْمُؤْمِنِ مِنْ رَجُلٍ فِي أَرْضٍ دَوِيَّةٍ مَهْلَكَةٍ مَعَهُ رَاحِلَتُهُ عَلَيْهَا طَعَامُهُ وَشَرَابُهُ فَنَامَ فَاسْتَيْقَظَ وَقَدْ ذَهَبَتْ فَطَلَبَهَا حَتَّى أَدْرَكَهُ الْعَطَشُ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَرْجِعُ إِلَى مَكَانِي الَّذِي كُنْتُ فِيهِ فَأَنَامُ حَتَّى أَمُوتَ ‏.‏ فَوَضَعَ رَأْسَهُ عَلَى سَاعِدِهِ لِيَمُوتَ فَاسْتَيْقَظَ وَعِنْدَهُ رَاحِلَتُهُ وَعَلَيْهَا زَادُهُ وَطَعَامُهُ وَشَرَابُهُ فَاللَّهُ أَشَدُّ فَرَحًا بِتَوْبَةِ الْعَبْدِ الْمُؤْمِنِ مِنْ هَذَا بِرَاحِلَتِهِ وَزَادِهِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

I went to see 'Abdullah to inquire about his health as he was sick and he narrated to us a hadith of Allahs Messenger (ﷺ). He heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: Allah is more pleased with the repentance of His believing servant than a person who loses his riding beast carrying food and drink. He sleeps (being disappointed of its recovery) and then gets up and goes in search for that, until he is stricken with thirst. then comes back to the place where he had been before and goes to sleep completely exhausted placing his head upon his hands waiting for death. And when he gets up, lot there is before him his riding beast and his provisions of food and drink. Allah is more pleased with the repentance of His servant than the recovery of this riding beast along with the provisions (of food and drink).

Narrated by Harith b. Suwaid said:

Context

In this hadith, the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) emphasizes the immense joy Allah feels when a believer repents. The analogy used is powerful: a man lost in a desolate land, desperate for his provisions, who finds them after despairing. This illustrates the depth of Allah's mercy and the importance of turning back to Him in repentance, highlighting that no matter how far one strays, returning to Allah is met with joy.

Modern Application

In today's world, this hadith encourages individuals to seek forgiveness and make amends for their mistakes. It serves as a reminder that no one is beyond redemption, and that sincere repentance can lead to a fresh start, fostering a culture of forgiveness and personal growth.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Repentance and Divine Mercy because it illustrates the joy of Allah in the repentance of His servant, emphasizing the importance of returning to Him.

Repentance Divine Mercy