"Allah is more pleased with the repentance of one of you that a man in a desolate, barren, destructive wasteland, who has his mount carrying his provisions, his food, and his drink and what he needs with him. Then it wanders away. So he goes to find it until he is on the brink of death. He says: 'I will return to the place where I lost it, to die.' So he returns to his place and his eyes become heavy (falling asleep). Then he awakens to find his mount at his head carrying his food, drink and what he needs." Other chains report similar narrations.
Hadith Text & Reference
"Allah is more pleased with the repentance of one of you that a man in a desolate, barren, destructive wasteland, who has his mount carrying his provisions, his food, and his drink and what he needs with him. Then it wanders away. So he goes to find it until he is on the brink of death. He says: 'I will return to the place where I lost it, to die.' So he returns to his place and his eyes become heavy (falling asleep). Then he awakens to find his mount at his head carrying his food, drink and what he needs." Other chains report similar narrations.
Source: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2498 | Book: Chapters on the description of the Day of Judgement, Ar-Riqaq, and Al-Wara' | Author: Jami' at-Tirmidhi
Context & Significance
This profound hadith addresses the immense value of repentance (tawbah) in Islam. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) employs a powerful desert analogy familiar to his audience to illustrate Allah's boundless mercy toward the repentant believer.
The desolate wasteland represents the spiritual emptiness and danger of being separated from Allah's guidance. The lost mount symbolizes one's faith and good deeds, while the provisions represent spiritual sustenance. When a person sins, they essentially lose their spiritual provisions and wander in spiritual desolation.
Scholarly Commentary
Imam at-Tirmidhi classified this hadith as hasan sahih (good and authentic). Scholars explain that the analogy demonstrates several key principles: The extreme joy of finding what was desperately needed after having lost all hope mirrors Allah's pleasure when a servant repents.
The man's exhaustive search represents the sincere effort required in repentance. His return to the original place signifies returning to Allah with humility and recognition of one's error. The sleep represents death or spiritual heedlessness, while awakening to find everything restored symbolizes Allah's complete acceptance of repentance and restoration of spiritual blessings.
This narration emphasizes that no matter how far one has strayed or how hopeless the situation appears, Allah's mercy is greater than any sin. The relief and joy experienced by the traveler is but a fraction of the divine pleasure at a believer's sincere return.
Practical Lessons
Never despair of Allah's mercy, regardless of the magnitude of one's sins. Sincere repentance requires earnest effort and returning to the state of obedience. Allah's acceptance of repentance is complete - He restores the repentant servant to a state even better than before their transgression.
This hadith serves as immense encouragement for those who feel they have strayed too far to return, reminding them that Allah's pleasure in their repentance exceeds the greatest earthly joy imaginable.