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This hadith is from Sunan Abu Dawud, which contains 5,276 hadiths across 43 books. It is hadith number 5166 in the Book of General Behavior (Kitab Al-Adab).

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#5165

#5166

Sunan Abu Dawud

#5167

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Sunan Abu Dawud #5166

Q: What is Sunan Abu Dawud 5166 about?

This hadith from Sunan Abu Dawud (Book of General Behavior (Kitab Al-Adab)), narrated by Narrated Abdullah ibn Umar:, states: "A man came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and asked: Messenger of Allah! how often shall I forgive a servant? He gave no reply, so the man repeated what he had said, but he still kept silence. When he asked a thi…"

General Behavior (Kitab Al-Adab)

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

حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ الْهَمْدَانِيُّ، وَأَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَمْرِو بْنِ السَّرْحِ، - وَهَذَا حَدِيثُ الْهَمْدَانِيِّ وَهُوَ أَتَمُّ - قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي أَبُو هَانِئٍ الْخَوْلاَنِيُّ عَنِ الْعَبَّاسِ بْنِ جُلَيْدٍ الْحَجْرِيِّ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عَمْرٍو يَقُولُ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ كَمْ نَعْفُو عَنِ الْخَادِمِ فَصَمَتَ ثُمَّ أَعَادَ عَلَيْهِ الْكَلاَمَ فَصَمَتَ فَلَمَّا كَانَ فِي الثَّالِثَةِ قَالَ ‏ "‏ اعْفُوا عَنْهُ فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ سَبْعِينَ مَرَّةً ‏"‏ ‏.‏

A man came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and asked: Messenger of Allah! how often shall I forgive a servant? He gave no reply, so the man repeated what he had said, but he still kept silence. When he asked a third time, he replied: Forgive him seventy times daily.

Narrated by Narrated Abdullah ibn Umar:

Context

In this hadith, the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) responds to a question about forgiveness by suggesting an astonishingly high number of times one should forgive a servant. By stating that one should forgive seventy times a day, he emphasizes the importance of mercy and the need to cultivate a forgiving nature, even in challenging circumstances.

Modern Application

This teaching is particularly relevant in modern relationships, where misunderstandings and conflicts can arise. Practicing forgiveness can lead to healthier interactions and stronger bonds, allowing individuals to move past grievances and foster harmony.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Forgiveness because it highlights the significance of forgiving others repeatedly, promoting a culture of mercy and understanding.

Forgiveness

Related Ayahs

سُورَةُ التَّوۡبَةِ

At-Tawba (The Repentance)

1 ayah

ٱسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ أَوْ لَا تَسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ إِن تَسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ سَبْعِينَ مَرَّةًۭ فَلَن يَغْفِرَ ٱللَّهُ لَهُمْ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ كَفَرُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلْفَٰسِقِينَ

Ask forgiveness for them, [O Muhammad], or do not ask forgiveness for them. If you should ask forgiveness for them seventy times - never will Allah forgive them. That is because they disbelieved in Allah and His Messenger, and Allah does not guide the defiantly disobedient people.

سُورَةُ يُوسُفَ

Yusuf (Joseph)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

قَالَ سَوْفَ أَسْتَغْفِرُ لَكُمْ رَبِّىٓ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلْغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ

He said, "I will ask forgiveness for you from my Lord. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful."

سُورَةُ نُوحٍ

Nooh (Noah)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

فَقُلْتُ ٱسْتَغْفِرُوا۟ رَبَّكُمْ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ غَفَّارًۭا

And said, 'Ask forgiveness of your Lord. Indeed, He is ever a Perpetual Forgiver.

سُورَةُ الجَاثِيَةِ

Al-Jaathiya (Crouching)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

قُل لِّلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ يَغْفِرُوا۟ لِلَّذِينَ لَا يَرْجُونَ أَيَّامَ ٱللَّهِ لِيَجْزِىَ قَوْمًۢا بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَكْسِبُونَ

Say, [O Muhammad], to those who have believed that they [should] forgive those who expect not the days of Allah so that He may recompense a people for what they used to earn.

سُورَةُ آلِ عِمۡرَانَ

Aal-i-Imraan (The Family of Imraan)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

فَبِمَا رَحْمَةٍۢ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ لِنتَ لَهُمْ ۖ وَلَوْ كُنتَ فَظًّا غَلِيظَ ٱلْقَلْبِ لَٱنفَضُّوا۟ مِنْ حَوْلِكَ ۖ فَٱعْفُ عَنْهُمْ وَٱسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ وَشَاوِرْهُمْ فِى ٱلْأَمْرِ ۖ فَإِذَا عَزَمْتَ فَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُتَوَكِّلِينَ

So by mercy from Allah, [O Muhammad], you were lenient with them. And if you had been rude [in speech] and harsh in heart, they would have disbanded from about you. So pardon them and ask forgiveness for them and consult them in the matter. And when you have decided, then rely upon Allah. Indeed, Allah loves those who rely [upon Him].

Common Words

84 total68 unique8 repeated

لهم6x

ٱلله5x

لا3x

تستغفر2x

إن2x

إنه2x

للذين2x

من2x

ٱستغفر1x

أو1x

سبعين1x

مرة1x

فلن1x

يغفر1x

ذلك1x

بأنهم1x

كفروا1x

بٱلله1x

ورسوله1x

وٱلله1x

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About Sunan Abu Dawud

This hadith is #5166 from Sunan Abu Dawud, in the Book of General Behavior (Kitab Al-Adab) and narrated by Narrated Abdullah ibn Umar:.

Browse all Sunan Abu Dawud All Hadith Collections

Sunan Abu Dawud #5166

Context

Modern Application

Topics

Related Ayahs

Common Words

Related Hadiths

About Sunan Abu Dawud

About This Hadith