An-Nawawi's Forty Hadith 39: Mistakes, Forgetfulness, and being Forced

Delving into An-Nawawi's Forty Hadith 39 unveils crucial insights into the principles of leniency within Islamic Sharia. Drawing upon the explanation from Tuhfatus Saniyah by Sheikh Dr. Khalid Al-Juhani, this discussion thoroughly explores the exemptions from accountability for mistakes, forgetfulness, and compulsion. A profound understanding of this hadith is key to applying Islamic teachings wisely and justly in everyday life.

TEXT OF AN-NAWAWI’S FORTY HADITH 39

اَلتَّجَاوُزُ عَنِ الْمُخْطِئِ، وَالنَّاسِيْ، وَالْمُكْرَهِ

Forgivness for the one who makes a mistake and the one who forgets and the one who is forced

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عَنْ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُمَا، أَنَّ رَسُوْلَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ:

From Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with both of them), that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

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إِنَّ اللهَ تَجَاوَزَ لِيْ عَنْ أُمَّتِي الْخَطَأَ، وَالنِّسْيَانَ، وَمَا اسْتُكْرِهُوْا عَلَيْهِ

Indeed, Allah has permitted[1] for me (on behalf of) my nation:[2] mistakes,[3] forgetfulness,[4] and what they are forced to do under compulsion.

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حَدِيْثٌ حَسَنٌ رَوَاهُ ابْنُ مَاجَهْ، وَالْبَيْهَقِيُّ، وَغَيْرُهُمَا.

A good (hasan) hadith, narrated by Ibn Majah,[5] Al-Bayhaqi,[6] and others. ==========

LESSONS FROM AN-NAWAWI’S FORTY HADITH 39

مَنْ فَعَلَ شَيْئًا خَطَأً، أَوْ نِسْيَانًا، أَوْ مُكْرَهًا لَمْ يَأْثَمْ

1 – Whoever does something by mistake, or forgetfulness, or is compelled to it, incurs no sin.

عَظِيْمُ رَحْمَةِ اللهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ، وَعَظِيْمُ عَفْوِهِ حَيْثُ عَفَا لِأُمَّتِهِ عَنْ تِلْكَ الْأُمُوْرِ

2 – Great is the mercy of Allah, the Exalted and Majestic, and great is His forgiveness where He has pardoned His Ummah for those matters.

سُهُوْلَةُ الشَّرِيْعَةِ الْإِسْلَامِيَّةِ، وَسَمَاحَتُهَا

3 – The ease of the Islamic Sharia, and its tolerance.

BENEFITS FROM AN-NAWAWI’S FORTY HADITH 39

فَائِدَةٌ (١): أَقْسَامُ أُمَّةِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ثَلَاثَةٌ:

Benefit (1): The categories of the Prophet's (peace be upon him) Ummah are three:

أَحَدُهَا: أُمَّةُ الْإِتِّبَاعِ، وَهُمْ أَهْلُ الْعَمَلِ الصَّالِحِ.

The first: The Ummah of following, and they are the people of righteous deeds.

الثَّانِي: أُمَّةُ الْإِجَابَةِ، وَهُمْ مُطْلَقُ الْمُسْلِمِيْنَ.

The second: The Ummah of acceptance (response), and they are all Muslims.

الثَّالِثُ: أُمَّةُ الدَّعْوَةِ، وَهُمْ مَنْ عَادَاهُمْ مِمَّنْ بُعِثَ إِلَيْهِمْ.

The third: The Ummah of invitation, and they are those who opposed them (the believers) from among those to whom he (the Prophet) was sent.

فَائِدَةٌ (٢): الْفَرْقُ بَيْنَ الْخَطَأِ، وَالنِّسْيَانِ:

Benefit (2): The difference between mistake and forgetfulness:

الْخَطَأُ: أَنْ يَقْصِدَ بِفِعْلِهِ شَيْئًا فَيُصَادِفَ فِعْلُهُ غَيْرَ مَا قَصَدَهُ، كَأَنْ يَقْصِدَ أَنْ يَصِيْدَ طَائِرًا، فَيُصَادِفَ قَتْلَهُ مُسْلِمًا. Mistake: Is when one intends by his action something, but his action coincides with something other than what he intended, such as intending to hunt a bird, but it coincides with killing a Muslim.

وَالنِّسْيَانُ: أَنْ يَكُوْنَ ذَاكِرًا الشَّيْءَ، فَيَنْسَاهُ عِنْدَ الْفِعْلِ.

Forgetfulness: Is when one remembers something, but forgets it at the time of the action. فَائِدَةٌ (٣): مَا يُسْتَثْنَى مِنَ الْإِكْرَاهِ:

Benefit (3): What is exempted from compulsion:

يُسْتَثْنَى مِنَ الْإِكْرَاهِ: الْإِكْرَاهُ عَلَى الزِّنَا، وَالْقَتْلِ، فَلَا يُبَاحَانِ بِالْإِكْرَاهِ. What is exempted from compulsion: compulsion to commit Zina (unlawful sexual intercourse) and murder, for these two are not permissible under compulsion.[7] فَائِدَةٌ (٤): مَا يُسْتَثْنَى مِنَ النِّسْيَانِ:

Benefit (4): What is exempted from forgetfulness:

يُسْتَثْنَى مِنَ النِّسْيَانِ: مَا تَعَاطَى الْإِنْسَانُ سَبَبَهُ، فَإِنَّهُ يَأْثَمُ بِفِعْلِهِ؛ لِتَقْصِيْرِهِ. What is exempted from forgetfulness: what a person undertakes the means for, for indeed he sins by his action due to his negligence.[8] فَائِدَةٌ (٥): أَمْثِلَةٌ تَطْبِيْقِيَّةٌ عَلَى الْحَدِيْثِ:

Benefit (5): Applied examples regarding the Hadith:

مَنْ أَكَلَ، أَوْ شَرِبَ نَاسِيًا فِي نَهَارِ رَمَضَانَ، فَلَا شَيْءَ عَلَيْهِ

1 – Whoever eats or drinks forgetfully during the day of Ramadan, there is no blame upon him.

مَنْ شَرِبَ الْخَمْرَ نَاسِيًا، أَوْ مُكْرَهًا فَلَا شَيْءَ عَلَيْهِ

2 – Whoever drinks wine forgetfully or under compulsion, there is no blame upon him.

مَنْ قَتَلَ إِنْسَانًا خَطَأً فَلَا إِثْمَ عَلَيْهِ، وَلَكِنْ يَضْمَنُ الدِّيَةَ، وَعَلَيْهِ الْكَفَّارَةُ

3 – Whoever kills a person by mistake, there is no sin upon him, but he must pay the blood money (Diyyah), and expiate (Kaffarah).

مَنْ قَتَلَ بَهِيمَةً خَطَأً فَلَا إِثْمَ عَلَيْهِ، وَلَكِنْ عَلَيْهِ الضَّمَانُ إِمَّا بَدَلُ الْمُتْلَفِ، أَوْ قِيمَتُهُ.

4 – Whoever kills an animal by mistake, there is no sin upon him, but he must make amends either by replacing the destroyed animal or its value.

مَنْ أُكْرِهَ عَلَى كَلِمَةِ الْكُفْرِ فَنَطَقَ بِهَا فَلَا شَيْءَ عَلَيْهِ، كَمَا قَالَ تَعَالَى: ﴿مَنْ كَفَرَ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ بَعْدِ إِيمَانِهِ إِلَّا مَنْ أُكْرِهَ وَقَلْبُهُ مُطْمَئِنٌّ بِالْإِيمَانِ وَلَكِنْ مَنْ شَرَحَ بِالْكُفْرِ صَدْرًا فَعَلَيْهِمْ غَضَبٌ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ﴾

5 – Whoever is compelled to utter a word of disbelief and utters it, there is no blame upon him, as Allah the Exalted said: "Whoever disbelieves in Allah after his belief... except for one who is forced [to renounce his religion] while his heart is secure in faith. But those who [willingly] open their breasts to disbelief - upon them is wrath from Allah, and for them is a great punishment," [QS An-Nahl: 106].

In conclusion to the discussion on the 39th Hadith of An-Nawawi's Forty Hadith based on Tuhfatus Saniyah, it is clear that Islam grants ease and justice by absolving from sin in unintentional, forgetful, or compelled circumstances, with specific exceptions such as fornication and murder under duress, as well as forgetfulness resulting from negligence. This understanding, as elucidated by Sheikh Dr. Khalid Al-Juhani, reinforces the belief in Allah's mercy and wisdom in every provision of His Sharia. Wallahua’lam

Sukoharjo, 17 April 2025

Irfan Nugroho (May Allah forgive his sins, accept his good deeds, and grant his prayers. Ameen)

EXPLANATION OF THE HADITH

[1] “Permitted” here means:

عَفَا

Pardoned or forgived.

[2] “My nation” here means:

أَيْ أُمَّةُ الْإِجَابَةِ

The community of those who respond (to the call of Islam).

[3] “Mistakes” here means:

أَيْ غَيْرُ الْعَمْدِ

Unintentional.

[4] “Forgetfulness” here means:

ضِدُّ الذِّكْرِ

The opposite of remembrance.

[5] Sunan Ibnu Majah: 2045. [6] Sunan Al-Kubra: 8/410 [7] Compulsion generally mitigates sin, except for fornication and murder. In these two cases, compulsion does not justify the act, and the perpetrator remains sinful due to their strict prohibition. [8] Forgetfulness is excused unless caused by initial negligence. If someone neglects safeguarding something and then forgets the cause of its loss, they remain responsible for their negligence. The leniency of forgetfulness only applies if there was no prior negligence.