When Allah created the creation, He wrote in a book, which is with Him over the Throne: Verily, My mercy predominates over My anger

Chapter: The Vastaess Of Allah's Mercy, Which Prevails Over His Wrath

Authentic hadith of Sahih Muslim Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih Muslim 2751a

حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا الْمُغِيرَةُ، - يَعْنِي الْحِزَامِيَّ - عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ، عَنِ الأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏"‏

لَمَّا خَلَقَ اللَّهُ الْخَلْقَ كَتَبَ فِي كِتَابِهِ فَهُوَ عِنْدَهُ فَوْقَ الْعَرْشِ إِنَّ رَحْمَتِي تَغْلِبُ غَضَبِي ‏"

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When Allah created the creation, He wrote in a book, which is with Him over the Throne: Verily, My mercy predominates over My anger."

Another narration: "My mercy predominated My anger.''

Another narration: "My mercy preceded My anger.''

Reported by Muslim (No. 2751a, 2751b, 2751c), Al-Bukhari (No. 3194, 7404, 7422, 7453, 7553), At-Tirmidhi (No. 3543), Ibn Majah (No. 4295) and Ahmad (No. 6998, 7187, 7215, 7779, 8346, 8601, 9225).

Explanation

When Allah created the creation, He wrote in a book, which is with Him over the Throne: Verily, My mercy predominates over My anger. In the Qur'an, He says: {And My mercy encompasses all things.} Indeed, this prompts Muslims not to despair or lose hope.

Explanation in Arabic

لما خلق الله عز وجل الخلق كلهم كتب في كتاب عنده فوق العرش: إن رحمتي أكثر وأغلب عليَّ من غضبي. قال تعالى : (ورحمتي وسعت كل شيء)، وهذا يحمل المسلم على عدم اليأس والقنوط.

فيه دليل على علو الله -عز وجل- على خلقه، وأنه فوق عرشه بائن من خلقه.
إثبات صفتي الرحمة والغضب لله -عز وجل-، ولا يجوز تأويلهما بإرادة الثواب والعقاب.
سعة رحمة الله بعباده كافة، وأن رحمته سبقت غضبه.

Classical commentary

An-Nawawi — Sharh Sahih Muslim

قَوْله تَعَالَى : ( إِنَّ رَحْمَتِي تَغْلِب غَضَبِي ) وَفِي رِوَايَة : ( سَبَقَتْ رَحْمَتِي غَضَبِي ) قَالَ الْعُلَمَاء : غَضَب اللَّه تَعَالَى وَرِضَاهُ يَرْجِعَانِ إِلَى مَعْنَى الْإِرَادَة , فَإِرَادَته الْإِثَابَة لِلْمُطِيعِ , وَمَنْفَعَة الْعَبْد تُسَمَّى رِضًا وَرَحْمَة , وَإِرَادَته عِقَاب الْعَاصِي وَخِذْلَانه تُسَمَّى غَضَبًا , وَإِرَادَتُهُ سُبْحَانه وَتَعَالَى صِفَةٌ لَهُ قَدِيمَةٌ يُرِيد بِهَا جَمِيع الْمُرَادَات , قَالُوا : وَالْمُرَاد بِالسَّبْقِ وَالْغَلَبَة هُنَا كَثْرَة الرَّحْمَة وَشُمُولهَا , كَمَا يُقَال : غَلَبَ عَلَى فُلَان الْكَرَم وَالشَّجَاعَة إِذَا كَثُرَا مِنْهُ.…

Scholar	Grade	Applies to	Work
Muslimd. 261 AH	Authenticصحيح	The hadith	صحيح مسلم No. 2751

Grades of other versions (9)

AuthenticAl-Albani صحيح — مختصر العلو (21)
AuthenticAl-Albani صحيح — صحيح الجامع (5214)
AuthenticShu'ayb al-Arna'ut صحيح — تخريج المسند لشعيب (7500)
Authentic chainShu'ayb al-Arna'ut إسناده صحيح على شرط الشيخين — تخريج صحيح ابن حبان (6143)
AuthenticAl-Bukhari صحيح — صحيح البخاري (7404)
AuthenticAl-Bukhari صحيح — صحيح البخاري (3194)
AuthenticIbn Hibban أخرجه في صحيحه — صحيح ابن حبان (6143)
Authenticالقرطبي المفسر صحيح — تفسير القرطبي (22/378)
Authenticالزرقاني صحيح — مختصر المقاصد (201)

Other versions

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih al-Bukhari 3194

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "When Allah completed the creation, He wrote in His Book which is with Him on His Throne, "My Mercy overpowers My Anger."

لَمَّا قَضَى اللَّهُ الْخَلْقَ كَتَبَ فِي كِتَابِهِ، فَهْوَ عِنْدَهُ فَوْقَ الْعَرْشِ إِنَّ رَحْمَتِي غَلَبَتْ غَضَبِي ‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih al-Bukhari 7404

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "When Allah created the Creation, He wrote in His Book--and He wrote (that) about Himself, and it is placed with Him on the Throne--'Verily My Mercy overcomes My Anger.'"

لَمَّا خَلَقَ اللَّهُ الْخَلْقَ كَتَبَ فِي كِتَابِهِ ـ هُوَ يَكْتُبُ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ، وَهْوَ وَضْعٌ عِنْدَهُ عَلَى الْعَرْشِ ـ إِنَّ رَحْمَتِي تَغْلِبُ غَضَبِي ‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih al-Bukhari 7422

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "When Allah had finished His creation, He wrote over his Throne: 'My Mercy preceded My Anger.'

إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَمَّا قَضَى الْخَلْقَ كَتَبَ عِنْدَهُ فَوْقَ عَرْشِهِ إِنَّ رَحْمَتِي سَبَقَتْ غَضَبِي ‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih al-Bukhari 7453

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "When Allah created the creations, He wrote with Him on His Throne: 'My Mercy has preceded My Anger."

لَمَّا قَضَى اللَّهُ الْخَلْقَ كَتَبَ عِنْدَهُ فَوْقَ عَرْشِهِ، إِنَّ رَحْمَتِي سَبَقَتْ غَضَبِي ‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Not graded Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih al-Bukhari 7553

I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) saying, "Before Allah created the creations, He wrote a Book (wherein He has written): My Mercy has preceded my Anger." and that (Book) is written with Him over the Throne."

لَمَّا قَضَى اللَّهُ الْخَلْقَ كَتَبَ كِتَابًا عِنْدَهُ غَلَبَتْ ـ أَوْ قَالَ سَبَقَتْ ـ رَحْمَتِي غَضَبِي‏.‏ فَهْوَ عِنْدَهُ فَوْقَ الْعَرْشِ ‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih Muslim 2751b

Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, said: My mercy excels My wrath.

سَبَقَتْ رَحْمَتِي غَضَبِي ‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

See all 19 versions

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih Muslim 2751c

When Allah created the creation, He ordained for Himself and this document is with Him: Verily, My mercy predominates Mv wrath.

لَمَّا قَضَى اللَّهُ الْخَلْقَ كَتَبَ فِي كِتَابِهِ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ فَهُوَ مَوْضُوعٌ عِنْدَهُ إِنَّ رَحْمَتِي تَغْلِبُ غَضَبِي ‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3543

“Verily, Allah when He created the creation, He wrote with His Hand concerning Himself, that: ‘My mercy prevails over My wrath.’”

"‏ إِنَّ اللَّهَ حِينَ خَلَقَ الْخَلْقَ كَتَبَ بِيَدِهِ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ إِنَّ رَحْمَتِي تَغْلِبُ غَضَبِي ‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sunan Ibn Majah 4295

“When Allah created the universe, He decreed for Himself: ‘My mercy prevails over My wrath.’”

"‏ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لَمَّا خَلَقَ الْخَلْقَ كَتَبَ بِيَدِهِ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ إِنَّ رَحْمَتِي تَغْلِبُ غَضَبِي ‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Not graded Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Hadith qudsi Musnad Ahmad 6998