Hayatus Sahabah - The Lives of the Sahabah - Part 3

THE LIVES OF THE SAHABAH 'BG-5 (Vol-3) 119
Rasulullaah @% said, "Do good deeds and abstain from evil. Allaah will then
convert them all (your past sins) into good deeds." The man said, "Even all my
treachery and sins?" "Certainly," Rasulullaah assured him. The man then
continued calling oat Wlaahu Akbaruunti he disappeared from sight. ('1
The Incident of a Sinful Woman and Hadhrat
Abu Hurayrah @,E@l@'>
Hadhrat Abu Hurayrah WWi relates, "A woman once came to me and asked, 'Is
there any repentance for me when I have committed adultery, given birth to a
child and then killed it?' 'Not at all!' I cried out, 'Neither can you expect and
goodness or honour.' She then got up (and left) with deep remorse. After
performing the Fajr salaah behind Rasulullaah @%, I related to him what the
lady had said and what reply I gave her. Rasulullaah @?@ said, Your reply was a
terrible one indeed! Do you not recite the verse:
(Ar Rahmaan's bondsmen are) Those who do not call to (do not
woksh~p) another Ilaah with Allaah, who only kill a soul forbidden by
Allaah with a warrant (when required to execute a person whom a
court of Sharihh sentences to death), and (they are those) who do not
fornicate. Whoever commits these (sins of Shirk, murder, adultery or
fornication) shall meel with a grave punishment. (In fact,) Punishment
will be multiplied for him on the Day of Qiyaamah and he shall remain
a disgraced in it (punishment) forever. Except for those who (sincere&)
repent, accept lmaan and perform good actions. For such people Allaah
will convert their sins into good deeds. Allaah is Ever Most Forgiving,
Most Merciful. {Surah Furqaan, verses 68-70)
When I then recited these verses to the woman, she fell down in Sajdah saying,
"All praise belongs to Allaah Who has created an, escape for me." (2)
Another narration states that she cried out, "0 dear! Has this beauty been created
for Jahannam?" The same narration further says that after leaving Rasulullaah
@?%, Hadhrat Abu Hurayrah iBl%&j searched for the woman throughout the
neighbourhood of Madinah but was unable to find her. It was only when she
came to him the following night that he was able to inform her about what
Rasulullaah @% said. She then fell down in Sajdah saying, "All praise belongs to
Allaah Who has created an escape for me and had allowed me repentance from
my actions." She then set free a slave woman she owned together with the slave's
(1) Tabraani, as quoted in the TafSeerof Ibn Katheer (Vol.3 Pg.328).
(2) Ibn Abi Haatirn.