Among the B. Isra’il there was a man who killed ninety-nine people and then went out to make enquiry. He went to a monk and asked him whether repentance would be accepted for what he had done, and when he replied that it would not, he killed him. He then began to make enquiry, and a man told him to go to such and such a village. When he was upon the point of death he arose to go towards it, and the angels of mercy and the angels of punishment disputed over him. God then told the one village to come near and the other to remove to a distance, and told the angels to measure the distance between them. He was found to be the distance of a span nearer to the one towards which he was going, and so he was forgiven. (Bukhari and Muslim.)
The Hadith of the Ninety-Nine Murders
This narration from Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, as compiled in Mishkat al-Masabih 2327, presents a profound lesson on the vastness of Divine Mercy and the ultimate efficacy of sincere repentance (tawbah), even from the gravest of sins.
Commentary on the Narrative
The scholars explain that this man's initial inquiry was a sign of a nascent spiritual awakening. His killing of the monk, who incorrectly declared repentance impossible, was a further transgression born of despair—a sin in itself, as despair of Allah's mercy is forbidden.
The instruction to go to a specific village represents the direction for a repentant soul to migrate from its state of sin to a state of obedience and righteousness. The physical journey symbolizes the spiritual journey of the heart back to Allah.
The Dispute of the Angels
The dispute between the Angels of Mercy and the Angels of Punishment reflects the divine justice and wisdom in judging a soul. The Angels of Mercy seek to highlight any atom's weight of good and sincere intention, while the Angels of Punishment uphold the demands of justice for the crimes committed.
Allah's command to measure the distances demonstrates that His judgement is not arbitrary but is based on precise measurement of the soul's final orientation and effort. The man's physical movement towards the good, even in his final moments, was accepted as a valid expression of his intention.
Lessons on Repentance (Tawbah)
This hadith powerfully refutes the notion that any sin is too great for Allah's forgiveness. The core of repentance is sincere intention and turning towards Allah. The man's final act—struggling to move towards the righteous land—was the ultimate physical manifestation of his inner turning (inqilab) towards goodness.
Scholars caution, however, that this is not a license to delay repentance. The acceptance of his repentance at the last possible moment is a specific divine decree (qada') for this individual, illustrating Allah's boundless power to forgive whom He wills. It is not a precedent to rely upon, as the moment of death is unknown.
Conclusion and Spiritual Takeaway
From "Supplications" in Mishkat al-Masabih, this account serves as a eternal beacon of hope. It teaches that no one should ever despair of the rahmah (mercy) of Allah, which encompasses all things. Simultaneously, it is a grave warning against causing others to despair, as the first monk did. The believer must always live between hope (raja') and fear (khawf), striving towards righteousness while trusting in a Mercy that is vaster than any sin.