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He addresses His servants, makes plain to them the breadth of His bounty and mercy, and informs them that He forgives sins—however great their number—so long as they stop short of shirk. This report is parallel to His words: “Indeed, Allah does not forgive that partners be associated with Him, but He forgives whatever is less than that for whom He wills” (4:48).
Connection between the hadith and the chapter: it demonstrates the abundance of the reward for pure monotheism and that it wipes away sins no matter how many they are.
Lessons drawn from the hadith:
- The excellence of monotheism and the profusion of its reward.
- The vastness of Allah’s favor, generosity, mercy, and pardon.
- A rebuttal of the Khawarij, who pronounce a doer of major sins—short of shirk—an unbeliever.
- Affirmation that Allah speaks in a manner befitting His majesty.
- Affirmation of resurrection, reckoning, and requital.
يخاطب عباده ويبين لهم سعة فضله، ورحمته، وأنه يغفر الذنوب مهما كثُرت ما دامت دون الشرك، وهذا الحديث مثل قوله تعالى: ﴿إِنَّ اللهَ لاَ يَغْفِرُ أَن يُشْرَكَ بِهِ وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَلِكَ لِمَن يَشَاء﴾ [النساء: ٤٨] .
مناسبة الحديث للباب: أن فيه دليلاً على كثرة ثواب التوحيد، وأنه يكفر الذنوب مهما كثُرت.
ما يستفاد من الحديث:
١- فضل التوحيد وكثرة ثوابه.
٢- سعة فضل الله وجوده ورحمته وعفوه.
٣- الرد على الخوارج الذين يكفرون مرتكب الكبيرة التي هي دون الشرك.
٤- إثبات الكلام لله ﷿ على ما يليق بجلاله.
٥- إثبات البعث والحساب والجزاء.
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