Al-Harith b. Suwaid said that ‘Abdallah b. Mas'ud told him two traditions, one of them from God’s messenger and the other from him self. He said, “The believer sees in his sins as though he were sitting under a mountain which he fears may fall on him, but the profligate sees his sins like a fly which has passed over his nose and which he has brushed away with his hand.” Then he said that he heard God’s mes senger say, “God rejoices more over the repentance of a believer than a man who goes down to a desert and dangerous district with his riding- beast which carries his food and drink, who lays down his head and sleeps for a time, then awakening and finding that his riding-beast has gone, looks for it, and when distressed by heat and thirst or what God wills, says he will return to the place where he was and sleep till he dies, lays his head on his arm to die, then awakens and sees his riding-beast beside him with his food and drink on it. God rejoices more intensely over the repentance of a believing servant than this man does over his riding-beast and his provisions.” Muslim transmitted only the tradition which is traced back to God’s messenger from him, but Bukhari transmitted also the one which goes no farther back than Ibn Mas'ud.
The Believer's View of Sin
The first tradition from Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) beautifully illustrates the spiritual state of the believer versus the profligate. The believer perceives his sins as a massive mountain looming over him, fearing its imminent collapse. This demonstrates the believer's profound awareness of Allah's majesty and the gravity of disobedience, which generates genuine fear and humility in the heart.
In contrast, the profligate treats sins as insignificant as a fly brushing past his nose—easily dismissed without concern. This comparison reveals the fundamental difference in spiritual perception: the believer's heart remains sensitive to wrongdoing, while the sinner's heart becomes hardened and indifferent to divine boundaries.
Divine Joy Over Repentance
The second tradition from the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) employs a powerful analogy to convey Allah's immense pleasure at a believer's repentance. The desert traveler represents every human soul navigating the wilderness of this world. When he loses his mount (symbolizing guidance and provision), he experiences utter despair—paralleling the spiritual desolation of one separated from Allah through sin.
The traveler's decision to return to his original position signifies the repentant soul's determination to return to its primordial state of purity. His awakening to find his provisions restored mirrors the divine grace that envelops the repentant believer. Allah's joy exceeds even this profound human relief, demonstrating the infinite mercy and compassion of our Creator toward those who turn back to Him.
Scholarly Observations
The chain of transmission shows careful scholarly consideration. Imam Muslim recorded only the marfu' tradition (attributed directly to the Prophet), while Imam Bukhari included both the marfu' and mawquf traditions (attributed to Ibn Mas'ud). This reflects the rigorous methodology of hadith scholars in preserving and classifying prophetic traditions according to their chains of transmission.
These traditions collectively emphasize two essential spiritual realities: maintaining constant awareness of sin's gravity, and having unwavering hope in divine mercy. The balanced believer lives between fear of Allah's punishment and hope in His forgiveness—this being the middle path of Islamic spirituality.