'Indeed she has made such a repentance that if it were to be divided among seventy from the people of Madīnah, it would be enough for them all. Has she found something better than offering her own soul to Allah, Glorified and Exalted?

Chapter: Repentance

Authentic Riyad as-Salihin 22

وعن أبي نجيد- ضم النون وفتح الجيم - عمران بن الحصين الخزاعى رضي الله عنهما أن امرأة من جهينة أتت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وهى حبلى من الزنى، فقالت‏:‏ يا رسول الله أصبت حداً فأقمه علي، فدعا نبي الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وليها فقال‏:‏ أحسن إليها، فإذا وضعت فأتني، ففعل فأمر بها نبي الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، فشدت عليها ثيابها، ثم أمر بها فرجمت، ثم صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم عليها‏.‏ فقال له عمر‏:‏ تصلى عليها يا رسول الله وقد زنت، قال‏:‏ لقد تابت توبة لو قمست بين سبعين من أهل المدينة لوستعتهم، وهل وجدت أفضل من أن جادت بنفسها لله عز وجل ‏؟‏‏!‏ ‏"‏ رواه مسلم‏.‏

Abu Nujayd ‘Imrān ibn Husayn al-Khuza‘i (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that a woman from Juhaynah came to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) when she was pregnant from adultery. She said: ''O Messenger of Allah, I have committed something that entails a prescribed punishment on me, so apply it to me.'' The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) called her guardian and said to him: ''Be kind to her, and when she has given birth, come to me.'' He did accordingly. So the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) commanded that her clothes be tied around her, and should be stoned to death. Then he offered the funeral prayer for her. However, ‘Umar said to him: ''O Messenger of Allah, you pray over her although she had committed adultery?'' He said: ''Indeed she has made such a repentance that if it were to be divided among seventy from the people of Madīnah, it would be enough for them all. Has she found something better than offering her own soul to Allah, Glorified and Exalted?''

Reported by Muslim (No. 1696a, 1696b), Abu Dawud (No. 4440), At-Tirmidhi (No. 1435), An-Nasa’i (No. 1957), Ibn Majah (No. 2555), Ahmad (No. 19015, 19056, 19079, 19106) and Ad-Darimi (No. 2222). Cited in Riyad as-Salihin (No. 22).

Explanation

A woman from the tribe of Juhaynah came to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) as she was pregnant from adultery. She asked him to apply the prescribed punishment to her. Therefore, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) called her guardian and told him to treat her kindly and then bring her to him after she delivers her baby. When she gave birth, her guardian brought her to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) who then ordered that her clothes be tied well around her so that her body would not be exposed, and then ordered stoning her to death. Afterwards, he offered the funeral prayer over her and made supplications for her. ‘Umar wondered why the Prophet prayed over her, despite the fact that she had fornicated. Hence, the Prophet told him that she had made a great repentance that would be useful to seventy sinners from among the people of Madīnah, if it were to be spread over them. That is because the lady came willingly and submitted herself for the sake of Allah, so as to rid herself of her sin. Is there anything greater than what she did?

Explanation in Arabic

جاءت امرأة من جهينة إلى النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم وهي حاملٌ قد زنت رضي الله عنها، فأخبرته أنها قد أصابت شيئا يوجب عليها الحد؛ ليقيمه عليها، فدعا النبي صلي الله عليه وسلم وليها، وأمره أن يحسن إليها، فإذا وضعت فليأت بها إليه، فلما وضعت أتى بها وليها إلى النبي صلي الله عليه وسلم، فلفت ثيابها وربطت لئلا تنكشف، ثم أمر بها فرجمت بالحجارة حتى ماتت، ثم صلى عليها النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم ودعا لها دعاء الميت، فقال له عمر رضي الله عنه: تصلي عليها يا رسول الله وقد زنت؟ فأخبره النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم أنها قد تابت توبة واسعة لو قسمت على سبعين من المذنبين لوسعتهم ونفعتهم، فإنها جاءت سلمت نفسها من أجل التقرب إلى الله عز وجل والخلوص من إثم الزنى؛ فهل هناك أعظم من هذا؟.

من خلق المؤمن التألم والندم إذا فرط منه الذنب، وحرصه على تطهير نفسه من لوثة الإثم ولو كان في ذلك هلاك نفسه، ليلقى الله عز وجل وهو عنه راض.
العقوبة الدنيوية تكفر ذنب المعصية إذا اقترن ذلك بالندم والتوبة.
لا يقام حد الزنى على الحامل حتى تضع حملها، فإن كان حدها الجلد فحتى تطهر من نفاسها، وإن كان الرجم فحتى يستغني الولد عنها ولو بلبن غيرها.
أنه يصلى على المرجوم؛ لأنه مسلم.

Scholars’ grades

Original grading term, without a named scholar: صحيح

Other versions

Authentic Sahih Muslim 1696a

A woman from the tribe of Juhaynah came to the Prophet while she was pregnant from adultery

‘Imrān ibn al-Husayn (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: A woman from the tribe of Juhaynah came to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) while she was pregnant from adultery, and she said to him: "O Messenger of Allah, I have committed a sin liable to the legal…

امْرَأَةً، مِنْ جُهَيْنَةَ أَتَتْ نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَهِيَ حُبْلَى مِنَ الزِّنَى فَقَالَتْ يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ أَصَبْتُ حَدًّا فَأَقِمْهُ عَلَىَّ فَدَعَا نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَلِيَّهَا…

Narrated by Imrān ibn Husayn Explained

Authentic Sahih Muslim 1696b

This hadith has been transmitted on the authority of Yahya b. Abu Kathir.

وَحَدَّثَنَاهُ أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَفَّانُ بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبَانٌ الْعَطَّارُ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ أَبِي كَثِيرٍ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ مِثْلَهُ ‏.‏

Authentic Sunan Abu Dawud 4440

A woman belonging to the tribe of Juhaynah (according to the version of Aban) came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said that she had committed fornication and that she was pregnant. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) called her guardian. Then the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to him: Be good to her, and when she…

أَحْسِنْ إِلَيْهَا فَإِذَا وَضَعَتْ فَجِئْ بِهَا ‏"‏ ‏.‏ فَلَمَّا أَنْ وَضَعَتْ جَاءَ بِهَا فَأَمَرَ بِهَا النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَشُكَّتْ عَلَيْهَا ثِيَابُهَا ثُمَّ أَمَرَ بِهَا فَرُجِمَتْ ثُمَّ أَمَرَهُمْ…

Narrated by Imrān ibn Husayn

Authentic Jami' at-Tirmidhi 1435

"A woman from Juhainah confessed before the Prophet (ﷺ) that she had committed adultery, and she said: 'I am pregnant.' So the Prophet (ﷺ) called for her guardian and said: 'Be good to her and if she gives birth to her child then tell me.' So he did so, and then he (ﷺ) gave the order that her…

"‏ لَقَدْ تَابَتْ تَوْبَةً لَوْ قُسِمَتْ بَيْنَ سَبْعِينَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْمَدِينَةِ لَوَسِعَتْهُمْ وَهَلْ وَجَدْتَ شَيْئًا أَفْضَلَ مِنْ أَنْ جَادَتْ بِنَفْسِهَا لِلَّهِ ‏"

Narrated by Imrān ibn Husayn

Authentic Sunan an-Nasa'i 1957

a woman from Juhainah came to the Messenger of Allah sand said: "I have committed Zina." And she was committed Zina." And She was pregnant. He handed her over to her guardian and said: "Look after her, and when she gave birth, he brought her to him. He ordered that her garment be wrapped around…

"‏ لَقَدْ تَابَتْ تَوْبَةً لَوْ قُسِمَتْ بَيْنَ سَبْعِينَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْمَدِينَةِ لَوَسِعَتْهُمْ وَهَلْ وَجَدْتَ تَوْبَةً أَفْضَلَ مِنْ أَنْ جَادَتْ بِنَفْسِهَا لِلَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ ‏"

Narrated by Imrān ibn Husayn

Authentic Sunan Ibn Majah 2555

a woman came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and confessed to committing fornication. He issued orders, and her garments were tightened around her (so that her private parts would not become uncovered) then he stoned her, then he offered the funeral prayer for her.

فَأَمَرَ بِهَا فَشُكَّتْ عَلَيْهَا ثِيَابُهَا ثُمَّ رَجَمَهَا ثُمَّ صَلَّى عَلَيْهَا ‏.‏

Narrated by Imrān ibn Husayn

See all 13 versions

Not graded Musnad Ahmad 19015