The Book of Repentance - Sahih Muslim 2753 a

This commentary examines the profound hadith from Sahih Muslim regarding Allah's divine mercy, offering traditional Islamic scholarly perspective on its meanings and implications.

The Nature of Divine Mercy

Allah's mercy is described as being divided into one hundred parts, with only one part descending to the creation in this worldly life. This single portion sustains all creation, fosters love between creatures, and maintains cosmic order.

The numerical description should not be understood literally as limited quantification, but rather as a means to help human comprehension grasp the vastness of Allah's attribute of mercy (Ar-Rahman).

Worldly Mercy vs. Eternal Mercy

The single part of mercy manifest in this world creates bonds of affection between parents and children, kindness among strangers, and compassion throughout creation. Yet this is merely a fraction of what awaits believers.

The ninety-nine parts reserved for the Day of Resurrection demonstrate that the ultimate manifestation of divine mercy is eschatological - meant for the ultimate salvation and comfort of believers in the hereafter.

Scholarly Insights

Classical scholars note that if this small portion of mercy can create such profound love and compassion in this world, then the full mercy of the hereafter is beyond human imagination and comprehension.

This hadith serves as both a warning and consolation: a warning that worldly mercy is limited compared to what awaits, and consolation that Allah's ultimate mercy far exceeds what we experience in this temporary abode.

Practical Implications

Recognizing that all worldly compassion stems from divine mercy should increase our gratitude to Allah and encourage us to be channels of this mercy to others.

This understanding should also increase our hope in Allah's forgiveness and magnify our aspiration for the ultimate mercy reserved for the faithful in the afterlife.