Declaring the Glory of Allah Expiates Sins

📖Sunan al-Tirmidhī 3460
“Abdullah ibn Amr reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, ‘There is no one on earth who declares there is no God but Allah, Allah is the greatest, and there is no movement or might except in Allah, but that it will expiate his sins even if they were like foam on the sea.'”

Description:

• This hadith highlights the immense spiritual benefit of declaring Tawheed (oneness of Allah) and acknowledging His power.
• Saying “La ilaha illallah, Allahu Akbar, wa la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah” has the power to expiate sins, even if they are very numerous.
• It does not mean one can intentionally commit evil, thinking this declaration will erase it.

Clarification:

• For non-Muslims, sins committed out of ignorance or lack of guidance can be forgiven when they accept Tawheed sincerely.

For Muslims, this expiation applies mainly to minor sins, not deliberate major sins such as:

 1. Major sins (Kabair) include things like:

• Murder or physical harm
• Adultery or fornication
• Consuming intoxicants (alcohol, drugs)
• Theft or robbery
• False witness or deliberately breaking Islamic obligations

2. Minor sins (Sagha’ir) are smaller mistakes or lapses, such as:

• Lying in trivial matters
• Watching inappropriate content unintentionally or occasionally
• Gossiping or backbiting
• Losing patience or minor anger outbursts
• Small lapses in prayers or fasting

📖Qur’an 4:31
“If you avoid the major sins which you are forbidden, We will remove from you your lesser sins and admit you to a noble entrance [Paradise].”

• This shows that avoiding major sins ensures that minor sins can be forgiven, highlighting the mercy of Allah for those who obey His limits.

What We Learn Today:

• Regularly reciting these declarations reminds us of Allah’s greatness and our dependence on Him.
• Minor mistakes or sins can be forgiven through sincere remembrance and dhikr.
• Avoid relying solely on phrases to cover deliberate wrongdoing; obey Allah’s commands and avoid major sins.

Qur’anic Context:

📖Qur’an 39:53
“Say, ‘O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins…'”

Allah forgives sins for those who sincerely repent and remember Him.

📖Qur’an 2:286
“Allah does not burden a soul beyond that it can bear…”

Minor sins and mistakes are within Allah’s forgiveness, but major sins require conscious avoidance and repentance.

📖Qur’an 4:17
“Allah accepts only the repentance of those who do wrong in ignorance and repent soon after…”

Allah forgives those who commit sins by mistake; intentional major sins must be repented sincerely.