📖Sahih al-Bukhari 4687
Narrated Ibn Masud: A man kissed a woman and then came to Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) and told him of that, so this Divine Inspiration was revealed to the Prophet (ﷺ) ‘And offer Prayers perfectly at the two ends of the day, and in some hours of the night; (i.e. (five) compulsory prayers). Verily, the good deeds remove the evil deeds (small sins) That is a reminder for the mindful.’ (11.114) The man said, Is this instruction for me only?’ The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “It is for all those of my followers who encounter a similar situation.”
- This hadith in Sahih al-Bukhari 4687 teaches about the concept of free will in Islam. While Allah does not allow or encourage people to commit sins, human beings have free will and can choose to do good or bad. However, Allah is merciful and forgiving, and encourages people to turn back to Him and seek forgiveness through good deeds and repentance. The instruction to perform good deeds and seek forgiveness applies to all believers who may find themselves in similar situations, regardless of whether their actions were a result of their free will or not. Ultimately, it is up to each individual to exercise their free will and choose to follow the path of righteousness and seek forgiveness if they make mistakes.
