Forty Hadith Qudsi
Hadith 33, 40 Hadith Qudsi
عَنْ أَبي هُرَيْرَةَ ، رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ ، عَنِ النَّبَيِّ صَلَّى الله عَلَيْهِ وَ سَلَّمَ ، فِيما يَحْكِي عَنْ رَبِّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ ، قَالَ : أَذْنَبَ عَبْدٌ ذَنْبًا ، فَقَالَ : اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي ذَنْبي . فَقَالَ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالى : أَذْنَبَ عَبْدِي ذَنْبًا ، فَعَلِمَ أنَّ لَهُ رَبّاً ، يَغْفِرُ الذَّنْبَ ، وَيَأْخُذُ بِهِ . ثُمَّ عَادَ فَأَذْنَبَ ، فَقَالَ : أَيّ رَبِّ ، اغْفِرْ لِي ذَنْبِِي ، فَقَالَ تَبَارَكَ وتَعَالى : عَبْدِي أَذْنَبَ ذَنْباً . فَعَلِمَ أَنَّ لَهُ رَبّاً يَغْفِرُ الذَّنْبَ ، ويَأْخُذُ بِهِ . ثُمَّ عَادَ فَأَذْنَبَ ، فَقَالَ : أَيّ رَبِّ ، اغْفِرْ لِي ذَنْبِي : فَقَالَ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى : أَذْنَبَ عَبْدِي ذَنْباً ، فَعَلِمَ أَنَّ لَهُ رَبّاً ، يَغْفِرُ الذَّنْبَ ، ويَأْخُذُ بالذَّنْبِ . اعْمَلْ مَا شِئْتَ ، فَقَدْ غَفَرْتُ لَكَ . رواهُ مسلم (وكذلك البخاري)
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported from the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace), in what he relates from his Lord, Might and Majesty belong to Him:
‘A servant committed a sin and said, “O Allah, forgive my sin.” Blessed and Exalted is He, He said, “My servant committed a sin and knew that he has a Lord who forgives sins and holds him accountable for them.” Then he sinned again and said, “My Lord, forgive my sin.” Blessed and Exalted is He, He said, “My servant committed a sin and knew that he has a Lord who forgives sins and holds him accountable for them.” Then he sinned again and said, “My Lord, forgive my sin.” Blessed and Exalted is He, He said, “My servant committed a sin and knew that he has a Lord who forgives sins and holds him accountable for sins. Do as you wish, for I have forgiven you.”’
It was related by Muslim (and likewise by al-Bukhari).
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
اعْمَلْ مَا شِئْتَ ،
The final imperative اعْمَلْ مَا شِئْتَ, read in isolation, could be taken as permission to continue sinning. The Arabic supplies no explanatory note here, and the English witness likewise gives it literally.
What sourced explanatory note or qualified review is required to prevent this line from being misread as unrestricted permission?