What Has Been Related About The Virtue Of Repentance, And Seeking Forgiveness, And What Has Been Mentioned Of Allah’s Mercy To His Slaves Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3535

Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3535
Arabic hadith text
حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي عُمَرَ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ عَاصِمِ بْنِ أَبِي النَّجُودِ، عَنْ زِرِّ بْنِ حُبَيْشٍ، قَالَ أَتَيْتُ صَفْوَانَ بْنَ عَسَّالٍ الْمُرَادِيَّ أَسْأَلُهُ عَنِ الْمَسْحِ، عَلَى الْخُفَّيْنِ فَقَالَ مَا جَاءَ بِكَ يَا زِرُّ فَقُلْتُ ابْتِغَاءَ الْعِلْمِ فَقَالَ إِنَّ الْمَلاَئِكَةَ تَضَعُ أَجْنِحَتَهَا لِطَالِبِ الْعِلْمِ رِضًا بِمَا يَطْلُبُ ‏.‏ قُلْتُ إِنَّهُ حَكَّ فِي صَدْرِي الْمَسْحُ عَلَى الْخُفَّيْنِ بَعْدَ الْغَائِطِ وَالْبَوْلِ وَكُنْتَ امْرَأً مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَجِئْتُ أَسْأَلُكَ هَلْ سَمِعْتَهُ يَذْكُرُ فِي ذَلِكَ شَيْئًا قَالَ نَعَمْكَانَ يَأْمُرُنَا إِذَا كُنَّا سَفَرًا أَوْ مُسَافِرِيِنَ أَنْ لاَ نَنْزِعَ خِفَافَنَا ثَلاَثَةَ أَيَّامٍ وَلَيَالِيَهُنَّ إِلاَّ مِنْ جَنَابَةٍ لَكِنْ مِنْ غَائِطٍ وَبَوْلٍ وَنَوْمٍ ‏.‏فَقُلْتُ هَلْ سَمِعْتَهُ يَذْكُرُ فِي الْهَوَى شَيْئًا قَالَ نَعَمْ كُنَّا مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي سَفَرٍ فَبَيْنَا نَحْنُ عِنْدَهُ إِذْ نَادَاهُ أَعْرَابِيٌّ بِصَوْتٍ لَهُ جَهْوَرِيٍّ يَا مُحَمَّدُ ‏.‏ فَأَجَابَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَلَى نَحْوٍ مِنْ صَوْتِهِ هَاؤُمُ وَقُلْنَا لَهُ وَيْحَكَ اغْضُضْ مِنْ صَوْتِكَ فَإِنَّكَ عِنْدَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَقَدْ نُهِيتَ عَنْ هَذَا ‏.‏ فَقَالَ وَاللَّهِ لاَ أَغْضُضُ ‏.‏ قَالَ الأَعْرَابِيُّ الْمَرْءُ يُحِبُّ الْقَوْمَ وَلَمَّا يَلْحَقْ بِهِمْ ‏.‏ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ الْمَرْءُ مَعَ مَنْ أَحَبَّ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ فَمَازَالَ يُحَدِّثُنَا حَتَّى ذَكَرَ بَابًا مِنْ قِبَلِ الْمَغْرِبِ مَسِيرَةُ عَرْضِهِ أَوْ يَسِيرُ الرَّاكِبُ فِي عَرْضِهِ أَرْبَعِينَ أَوْ سَبْعِينَ عَامًاقَالَ سُفْيَانُ قِبَلَ الشَّامِ خَلَقَهُ اللَّهُ يَوْمَ خَلَقَ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضَ مَفْتُوحًا يَعْنِي لِلتَّوْبَةِ لاَ يُغْلَقُ حَتَّى تَطْلُعَ الشَّمْسُ مِنْهُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ
Translation
Zirr bin Hubaish said

“I came to Safwan bin `Assal Al Muradi to ask him about wiping over the Khuff, so he said: ‘What has brought you, O Zirr?’ So I said: ‘The desire for knowledge.’ So he said: ‘Indeed, the angels lower their wings for the seeker of knowledge, out of pleasure with what he is seeking.’ So I said: ‘Indeed there is some doubt in my chest concerning wiping over the Khuff after defecation and urination, and you were a man from the Companions of the Prophet (ﷺ), so I came to you to ask you: Have you heard him (ﷺ) mention anything concerning that?’ He said: ‘Yes, he (ﷺ) used to order us, that when we were travelers’ - or - ‘in travel, to not remove our Khuff for three days and nights except, from sexual impurity, but not from defecation, urination, and sleep.’” He said: “Have you heard him (ﷺ) mention anything concerning love?” He said: “Yes. We were with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) on a journey when a Bedouin with a loud voice called upon him (saying): ‘O Muhammad!’ So the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) responded to him with a voice similar to him (saying): ‘Come.’ So we said to him: ‘Lower your voice for you are with the Prophet (ﷺ), and you have been prohibited from this.’ He said: ‘By Allah, I will not lower (my voice).’ The Bedouin said: ‘A man loves a people but he is not with them (in terms of deeds)?’ He (ﷺ) said: ‘A man is with whomever he loves on the Day of Judgement.’” So he did not cease talking with us, until he mentioned a gate in the direction of the west with the width of seventy years journey - or a rider would travel its width - for forty or seventy years.” Sufyan (one of the narrators) said: “In the direction of Ash-Sham, Allah created it the Day He created the heavens and the earth, open - that is, for repentance. It shall not be locked until the sun rises through it.”

Commentary

Overview & Central Theme

This profound hadith, recorded by Imam At-Tirmidhi in the Chapters on Supplication, weaves together three essential strands of Islamic guidance: the virtue of seeking sacred knowledge, the practical facilitation of ritual purity during travel (specifically the concession of wiping over leather socks), and the spiritual reality of love and its eternal consequences. The narrative, transmitted through Zirr ibn Hubaysh, captures the Prophet ﷺ teaching that angels lower their wings in honor of knowledge seekers, that a traveler may wipe over khuff for three days and nights (with the exception of major impurity), and that a person will be resurrected with those whom they love. The hadith culminates with a powerful eschatological reminder—the western gate of repentance, created by Allah at the beginning of time, remains open until the sun rises from its direction, signifying the urgency of turning back to Allah before the final opportunity closes.

Context & Linguistic Insights

The hadith occurs in the context of Zirr's journey to Safwan ibn 'Assal, a Companion known for his devotion, to resolve a doubt concerning the wiping over khuff (leather socks) after answering the call of nature. Linguistically, "khuff" refers to leather footwear worn over the feet, and the term "mas-h" (wiping) denotes the light passing of wet hands over the socks as a substitute for washing the feet in wudu. The Prophet's ﷺ response to the Bedouin's loud call—matching his tone with "come"—demonstrates profound gentleness and humility, teaching that harshness is never a prophetic trait. The phrase "a man is with whomever he loves" (al-mar'u ma'a man ahabba) captures the intimate connection between love, intention, and divine companionship. The mention of the western gate (bab fi al-maghrib) alludes to the door of repentance described in other narrations, with its width spanning seventy years of travel, symbolizing both its immense capacity and the vastness of Allah's mercy. The word "tawbah" (repentance) is derived from "taba," meaning to return, signifying a complete turning back to Allah with sincerity.

Key Scholarly Insights & Legal Benefits

  • The concession of wiping over khuff is valid for three days and nights for a traveler and one day and night for a resident, as established by this and other authentic narrations; this ruling applies to minor impurities (hadath) but not to major impurity (janabah), which necessitates full purification.
  • The seeking of knowledge is an act of worship that attracts divine favor and angelic honor; Imam At-Tirmidhi grades this hadith as hasan, and the principle that angels lower their wings for knowledge seekers is a powerful motivation for lifelong learning in sacred sciences.
  • The hadith affirms that love for righteous people elevates one's spiritual station, even if one's deeds fall short; however, scholars clarify that this love must be genuine and accompanied by an intention to emulate their character, not mere empty claims.
  • The gate of repentance in the west remains open until the sun rises from that direction—a major sign of the Hour—indicating that sincere tawbah is accepted until that moment, after which no repentance will be accepted.
"The one who loves a people and is gathered with them on the Day of Resurrection—this is a mercy from Allah, for love is not merely a claim but a bond that draws the heart toward the beloved. Yet, as Ibn Rajab notes, the lover must strive to follow the beloved's path, for love without emulation is like a tree without fruit." — Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali, Jami' al-'Ulum wa'l-Hikam

Daily Life & Spiritual Application

In our daily lives, this hadith invites us to cultivate a sincere love for Allah, His Messenger ﷺ, and the righteous, knowing that this love will intercede for us on the Day of Judgment. It encourages us to pursue sacred knowledge with humility and persistence, trusting that Allah honors those who seek His guidance. Practically, we can apply the concession of wiping over khuff when traveling, easing our worship without negligence, while remaining vigilant about major impurities. The narrative of the Bedouin teaches us to respond to others with gentleness and patience, even when they err in etiquette, and to prioritize the essence of faith over external formalities. Finally, the mention of the open gate of repentance urges us to never despair of Allah's mercy—no matter how far we have strayed—and to turn back to Him today, before the sun rises from the west and the door closes forever. Let us make our love manifest through action, our knowledge through practice, and our repentance through immediate, sincere change.