Mishkat al-Masabih
Mishkat al-Masabih 5700
The Beginning of Creation, and Mention of the Prophets - Section 1
Arabic hadith text
وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ:" إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى كَتَبَ كِتَابًا قَبْلَ أَنْ يَخْلُقَ الْخَلْقَ: إِنَّ رَحْمَتِي سَبَقَتْ غَضَبِي فَهُوَ مَكْتُوب عِنْده فَوق الْعَرْش ". مُتَّفق عَلَيْهِ
Translation
Abu Huraira told that he heard God's messenger say God most high had inscribed a document before bringing the creation into being, "My mercy has preceded my anger," and that it is written in His presence above the throne. (Bukhari and Muslim.)