عَنْ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه و سلم قَالَ: "إنَّ اللَّهَ تَجَاوَزَ لِي عَنْ أُمَّتِي الْخَطَأَ وَالنِّسْيَانَ وَمَا اسْتُكْرِهُوا عَلَيْهِ" . حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ، رَوَاهُ ابْنُ مَاجَهْ [رقم:2045]، وَالْبَيْهَقِيّ ["السنن" 7 ].
On the authority of Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him), that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
Verily Allah has pardoned [or been lenient with] for me my ummah: their mistakes, their forgetfulness, and that which they have been forced to do under duress. A hasan hadeeth related by Ibn Majah, and al-Bayhaqee and others.
This hadith is a window into the immense mercy of Allah and the unique privilege granted to the Ummah of Muhammad ﷺ. It tells us that Allah, out of His compassion, has lifted sin in three areas of human weakness: mistakes, forgetfulness, and coercion. In these matters, a believer is not held accountable in the sight of Allah, for accountability rests upon intention, choice, and will. Without them, there is no sin, for Allah does not burden His servants beyond what they can bear.
To understand the depth of this mercy, it is important to reflect on each category. A mistake is something done unintentionally, without the intention of harm or disobedience. For example, a person may damage someone’s property by accident, or misspeak in a way that causes misunderstanding. Such actions are not sins in Allah’s record, for He judges by the heart’s intention. Yet worldly responsibility remains; justice requires that if harm was caused, it be repaired. The balance here is striking: Allah does not punish for what was unintentional, but He also ensures that the rights of people are preserved through compensation. Mercy and justice walk hand in hand.
Forgetfulness is another reality of human nature. The very word insān (human being) is related to nisyān (forgetfulness), reminding us that to forget is part of our design. A believer may forget to pray, forget a verse in recitation, or overlook a duty. Such lapses are not sins when done unintentionally. Still, the Prophet ﷺ guided us to remedies, such as the prostration of forgetfulness (sujūd al-sahw) in prayer. This shows us that Allah does not condemn us for our weakness, but He does train us to be mindful and to correct ourselves when possible. Forgetfulness becomes a reminder of our dependence upon Allah and our need to constantly turn to Him in remembrance.
Perhaps the most reassuring part of this hadith is Allah’s pardon for the believer under compulsion. When someone is forced, under threat or duress, to commit an act outwardly against Islam, Allah does not hold them to account if their heart remains firm in faith. A believer may be coerced into uttering words of disbelief or performing an unlawful act, but so long as the compulsion is genuine and the heart resists, there is no sin. This principle safeguards the believer from despair in the harshest of trials, and it reflects the justice of Allah: accountability only applies where choice and freedom exist.
This hadith is not isolated; it resonates with the Qur’an, especially the final verse of Sūrah al-Baqarah:
لَا يُكَلِّفُ ٱللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا ۚ لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتْ وَعَلَيْهَا مَا ٱكْتَسَبَتْ ۗ رَبَّنَا لَا تُؤَاخِذْنَآ إِن نَّسِينَآ أَوْ أَخْطَأْنَا
“Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity. It will have [the consequence of] what it has earned, and it will bear [the consequence of] what it has earned. Our Lord, do not impose blame upon us if we forget or make a mistake…” (Qur’an 2:286)
When this verse was revealed, the Companions were deeply concerned. Earlier, Allah had revealed that He would hold them accountable even for what was concealed in their hearts, and they feared punishment for every stray thought or unintentional lapse. They worried that their forgetfulness, their mistakes, and even their fleeting inner whispers would lead to divine reckoning. In response, Allah revealed this verse, assuring them that no soul would be burdened beyond its capacity, and that their plea not to be held accountable for forgetfulness and error was accepted. The Prophet ﷺ told them that Allah had said, “It is done.” This moment illustrates the tenderness of Allah’s relationship with His servants: He listens, He responds, and He lightens their load.
The lessons from this hadith are many. First, it teaches us that Allah’s mercy is vast and deeply intertwined with human weakness. He does not deal with us harshly but accommodates our flaws within His law. Second, it shows that accountability exists only where intention and freedom exist. Our unintentional errors are excused in the sight of Allah, though worldly consequences may still need to be addressed. Third, it reminds us that while Allah is merciful, Islam still upholds justice in society, requiring compensation where harm is caused even if there was no sin. Fourth, it highlights the uniqueness of this Ummah, for such pardons were not granted to previous nations. This should fill our hearts with gratitude for being among the followers of Muhammad ﷺ.
On a personal level, this hadith is both a comfort and a call to action. It comforts us because we are reminded that Allah is not waiting to punish us for every slip, every forgotten obligation, or every moment of weakness under pressure. He knows our limitations and excuses us when we falter beyond our control. Yet it also calls us to strive. Being excused for forgetfulness does not mean being careless; being pardoned for mistakes does not mean being reckless. Rather, it means that when we inevitably stumble, we should pick ourselves up with humility, correct what we can, and continue walking towards Allah.
In our daily lives, mistakes are inevitable. We will forget appointments, miss prayers unintentionally, say words without full awareness, and sometimes be pressured by others into choices we regret. When that happens, this hadith should echo in our hearts. Instead of despair, let us respond with remembrance of Allah, gratitude for His pardon, and renewed determination to improve. Truly, to be part of this Ummah is to be enveloped in mercy at every turn — mercy that forgives, mercy that corrects, and mercy that leads us back to Him.
Disclaimer:
Instructor: Sheikh Dr. Sajid Umar | STEPS TO JANNAH S4 | Forty Hadith Imam Nawawi
These are notes sharing from the Steps of Jannah classes online taught by Sheikh Dr Sajid Umar focusing on Hadith 40 an-Nawawi. The classes are still ongoing, every Monday 8pm UK time. If you would like to join, please email stepstojannah12@gmail.com
The notes written are from a student’s personal notes transcribed from the sessions. Should there be any error, May Allah forgive us, and do feedback (ain1810@gmail.com) so that it can get amended, and may it be beneficial to all of us and may Allah reward Jannah to Sh Sajid and his team for the beneficial ‘ilm being shared and to all of the students Steps to Jannah, Ameen.