Gardens of the Righteous — Page 95
RIYADH AS-SALIHIN 95 which Allah, the Blessed and the High, said: My servant committed a sin and then realised that he has a Lord Who forgives sin and also calls to account for it. The servant reverted to it and sinned again and supplicated: Lord, forgive me my sin. The Blessed and the High said: My servant committed a sin and then realised that he has a Lord Who forgives sin and also calls to account for it. The servant again reverted to it and sinned and supplicated: Lord, forgive me my sin. The Blessed and the High said: My servant committed a sin and then realised that he has a Lord Who forgives sin and also calls to account for it. I have forgiven My servant; so let him do what he wishes (meaning, so long as he goes on repenting) (Bokhari and Muslim). 425. Abu Hurairah relates that the Holy Prophet said: By Him in Whose hands is my life, if you had not sinned, Allah would have removed you and put in your place a people who would have sinned and then asked for forgiveness, so that He would have forgiven them (Muslim). 426. Abu Ayub Khalid ibn Zaid relates that he heard the Holy Prophet say: If you had not sinned, Allah would have created a creation that would have sinned and asked for forgiveness, so that He would have forgiven them (Muslim). 427. Abu Hurairah relates: We were sitting with the Holy Prophet, Abu. Bakr and Umar being also among us, when the Holy Prophet got up and left us. As time passed we became anxious lest he should come to harm while we were not with him. Being afraid, we got up: I was the first to do so and I set out in search of him, till I came to a garden belonging to the Ansar (here follows a long account, concluding with) and the Holy Prophet said: Go and whomsoever you encounter outside this garden who affirms out of the sincerity of his heart that there is none worthy of worship save Allah, give him the glad assurance that he will enter Paradise (Muslim). 428. Abdullah ibn Amr ibn 'As relates that the Holy Prophet recited the words of Allah concerning Abraham that he prayed: Lord, they have indeed led astray large numbers of people. So whoever follows me, he is certainly of me; and whoever disobeys me in his case also Thou art surely Most Forgiving,. Ever Merciful (14. 37); and the words of Jesus: If Thou decide to punish them, they are Thy servants; and if Thou forgive them, Thou surely art the Mighty, the Wise (5. 119); and then raised his hands and said: O Allah, my people, my people; and wept. Allah commanded Gabriel: Go to Muhammad (thy Lord knows all) and ask him: What makes you weep? So Gabriel came to him and the Holy Prophet told him what he had said. (Allah knew it). He commanded. Gabriel: Go to Muhammad and tell him: We shall cause thee to be pleased in the matter of thy people, and shall not make thee sorrowful (Muslim). 429. Mu'az ibn Jabal relates: I was riding a donkey pillion with the Holy. Prophet when he asked me: Mu'az, do you know what is due to Allah from His servants and what is due to His servants from Allah? I said: Allah and His. Messenger know best. He said: Allah's due from His servants is that they should worship Him and should not associate aught with Him; and the due of