"Whoever had the weight of a speck of faith in his heart will depart from the Fire." Abu Sa'eed said: "Whoever has doubt then let him recite: Indeed Allah does not deal unjustly with even the weight of a speck."
Hadith Text & Context
"Whoever had the weight of a speck of faith in his heart will depart from the Fire." Abu Sa'eed said: "Whoever has doubt then let him recite: Indeed Allah does not deal unjustly with even the weight of a speck."
This narration is found in Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2598, from the chapter "The Book on the Description of Hellfire." It is a profound statement of hope and divine justice.
Commentary on the Hadith
The "speck" (dharrah) refers to the smallest imaginable particle. The hadith affirms that no soul possessing even an atom's weight of true faith (iman) will remain in Hellfire eternally. This is a manifestation of Allah's boundless mercy, demonstrating that He does not waste the good deeds of any believer, no matter how small their faith may be.
The companion, Abu Sa'eed Al-Khudri, directs those who doubt this immense mercy to reflect upon the Quranic verse (4:40): "Indeed, Allah does not do injustice, [even] as much as a speck." This connects the Prophet's promise directly to the divine attribute of absolute justice, confirming that eternal punishment is only for those utterly devoid of faith.
Scholarly Insights
Scholars explain that this hadith primarily refers to sinful believers. They will eventually be brought out of Hellfire due to the foundational faith in their hearts, even if it was weak and they committed major sins. Their punishment is a purification, not a permanent state.
This does not negate the reality of punishment for sins, but it offers immense hope. It teaches that one should never despair of Allah's mercy. The ultimate fate is determined by what is in the heart at the moment of death. Therefore, one must strive to protect and increase their faith through obedience and sincere repentance.