The Book of Repentance - Sahih Muslim 2751 c

This narration from Sahih Muslim reveals a fundamental divine principle established before creation itself. Allah, in His infinite wisdom, predetermined that His attribute of mercy would encompass and prevail over His wrath.

Divine Preordination of Mercy

The phrase "He ordained for Himself" indicates this was a deliberate, eternal decree from Allah's essence, not a contingent matter. This divine ordinance exists as a written decree "with Him," emphasizing its permanence and authority.

The precedence of mercy over wrath demonstrates Allah's fundamental disposition toward His creation - His default position is mercy, while wrath is exceptional and conditional upon transgression without repentance.

Scholarly Commentary

Classical scholars explain that this hadith provides profound comfort to believers, knowing that Allah's mercy is primary and comprehensive. Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali notes this establishes hope as the dominant attitude believers should maintain toward their Lord.

Al-Qurtubi emphasizes that this divine precedence explains why repentance remains accepted until the moment of death, and why minor sins may be forgiven through avoidance of major ones.

This foundational principle underpins the entire Islamic concept of divine forgiveness and serves as the theological basis for the doctrine of repentance (tawbah) throughout Islamic scholarship.