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Sahih MuslimThe Book of Faith

Sahih Muslim 120a

Chapter: Will a person be punished for his actions during the Jahlilliyyah?

Authentic hadith of Sahih Muslim Sahih Muslim 120a

Narrator:Abdullah ibn Mas‘ūd

حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ، عَنْ أَبِي وَائِلٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ قَالَ أُنَاسٌ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَنُؤَاخَذُ بِمَا عَمِلْنَا فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ قَالَ ‏"‏

أَمَّا مَنْ أَحْسَنَ مِنْكُمْ فِي الإِسْلاَمِ فَلاَ يُؤَاخَذُ بِهَا وَمَنْ أَسَاءَ أُخِذَ بِعَمَلِهِ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ وَالإِسْلاَمِ ‏"

It is narrated on the authority of Abdullah b. Mas'ud that some people said to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ):

Messenger of Allah, would we be held responsible for our deeds committed in the state of ignorance (before embracing Islam)? Upon his he (the Holy Prophet) remarked: He who amongst you performed good deeds in Islam, He would not be held responsible for them (misdeeds which he committed in ignorance) and he who committed evil (even after embracing Islam) would be held responsible or his misdeeds that he committed in the state of ignorance as well as in that of Islam.

Reported by Muslim (No. 120a).

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Classical commentary

An-Nawawi — Sharh Sahih Muslim

قَالَ مُسْلِم : ( حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَان بْن أَبِي شَيْبَة حَدَّثَنَا جَرِير عَنْ مَنْصُور عَنْ أَبِي وَائِل عَنْ عَبْد اللَّه قَالَ : قَالَ أُنَاس : يَا رَسُول اللَّه أَنُؤَاخَذُ بِمَا عَمِلْنَا فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّة ؟ قَالَ : أَمَّا مَنْ أَحْسَن مِنْكُمْ فِي الْإِسْلَام فَلَا يُؤَاخَذ بِهَا , وَمَنْ أَسَاءَ أُخِذَ بِعَمَلِهِ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّة وَالْإِسْلَام ) وَأَمَّا مَعْنَى الْحَدِيث فَالصَّحِيح فِيهِ مَا قَالَهُ جَمَاعَة مِنْ الْمُحَقِّقِينَ أَنَّ الْمُرَاد بِالْإِحْسَانِ هُنَا الدُّخُول فِي الْإِسْلَام بِالظَّاهِرِ وَالْبَاطِن جَمِيعًا , وَأَنْ يَكُون مُسْلِمًا حَقِيقِيًّا فَهَذَا يُغْفَر لَهُ مَا سَلَف فِي الْكُفْر بِنَصِّ الْقُرْآن الْعَزِيز وَالْحَدِيث الصَّحِيح : " الْإِسْلَام يَهْدِم مَ…

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Grade taken from the status of the collection (Sahih Muslim).

Other versions

Also reported by… (3)
  • الإيمان لابن منده (379)مَنْ أَحْسَنَ مِنْكُمْ فِي الإِسْلامِ فَلا يُؤَاخَذُ بِهَا ،وَمَنْ أَسَاءَ أُخِذَ بِعَمَلِهِ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ وَالإِسْلامِ
  • المحلى بالآثار لابن حزم (19)أَمَّا مَنْ أَحْسَنَ مِنْكُمْ فِي الإِسْلامِ فَلا يُؤَاخَذُ بِهَا وَمَنْ أَسَاءَ أُخِذَ بِعَمَلِهِ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ وَالإِسْلامِ
  • مسند أبي يعلى الموصلي (5069)مَنْ أَحْسَنَ مِنْكُمْ فِي الإِسْلامِ فَلا يُؤَاخَذُ بِهَا ، وَمَنْ أَسَاءَ أُخِذَ بِعَمَلِهِ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ وَالإِسْلامِ

On the same subject

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih Muslim 120b

He who does good in Islam will not be punished for what he did during jāhiliyyah, and he who commits evil in Islam will be punished for the previous and later deeds

A man said: "O Messenger of Allah, will we be punished for what we did during jāhiliyyah (the pre-Islamic period of ignorance)?" He said: "He who does good in Islam will not be punished for what he did during jāhiliyyah, and he who commits evil in Islam will be punished for the previous and later…

مَنْ أَحْسَنَ فِي الإِسْلاَمِ لَمْ يُؤَاخَذْ بِمَا عَمِلَ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ ‏.‏ وَمَنْ أَسَاءَ فِي الإِسْلاَمِ أُخِذَ بِالأَوَّلِ وَالآخِرِ ‏"

Narrated by Abdullah ibn Mas‘ūd + 7 other versions Explained

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Sunday, October 11, 2026 30 ربيع الآخر 1448 هـ

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