The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "The one who commits an illegal sexual intercourse is not a believer at the time of committing illegal sexual intercourse and a thief is not a believer at the time of committing theft and a drinker of alcoholic drink is not a believer at the time of drinking. Yet, (the gate of) repentance is open thereafter."
The Nature of Iman and Major Sins
This hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari 6810 addresses the relationship between major sins and faith (iman). The Prophet (ﷺ) clarifies that when a Muslim commits adultery, theft, or consumes alcohol, their faith is suspended during the commission of these hudood crimes. This does not mean complete expulsion from Islam, but rather that the perfection of faith is absent.
Scholarly Interpretation
Classical scholars explain this suspension of faith refers to the completeness (kamal) of iman, not its essence (asl). Iman increases with obedience and decreases with disobedience. During these grave sins, the protective quality of faith is lifted, making the person vulnerable to divine punishment.
The phrase "not a believer" is understood as not possessing the complete faith that protects from major sins, similar to how one might say "so-and-so is not generous" when they perform a miserly act, without meaning they never display generosity.
The Mercy of Repentance
The concluding portion emphasizes Allah's boundless mercy. Despite the gravity of these sins, the door of repentance remains open. If the sinner sincerely repents - feeling remorse, abandoning the sin, and resolving not to return - Allah accepts their repentance. This demonstrates Islam's balance between justice and mercy.
Legal and Spiritual Implications
This teaching serves as both a spiritual warning and legal principle. It discourages Muslims from approaching major sins by highlighting their severe spiritual consequences while maintaining hope through repentance. The hadith also establishes that hudood punishments don't negate one's fundamental identity as Muslim when properly applied according to Islamic jurisprudence.