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An unreliable narration regarding returning to sin after tawbah

Is this narration authentic?

Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “When a person says ‘Astaghfirullaha wa atubu ilayhi’ [seeks forgiveness from Allah] thrice, but returns to sin each time, then after the fourth time Allah records him to be from amongst the liars.”

Answer

This narration is recorded in Musnadul Firdaws on the authority of Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (radiyallahu ‘anhu). However, the chain consists of a fabricator. The Muhaddithun have therefore declared the Hadith a fabrication.

(Musnadul Firdaws, Hadith: 1125, Tanzihush Shari’ah, vol. 2 pg. 285)

This narration is therefore not suitable to quote.

On the contrary, there are Verses of the Quran and Hadiths which mention that we should not lose hope in the mercy of Allah Ta’ala, and continue making tawbah even if we slip up. See here.

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala

Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar

This answer was collected from HadithAnswers.com. The answers were either answered or checked by Moulana Haroon Abasoomar (rahimahullah) who was a Shaykhul Hadith in South Africa, or by his son, Moulana Muhammad Abasoomer (hafizahullah), who is a Hadith specialist. 

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