Please can you provide a reference for this Hadith and comment on its authenticity.
عن أبي ذر قال: قلت: يا رسول الله، أوصني، قال: إذا عملت سيئة فأتبعها حسنة تمحها قال: قلت: يا رسول الله، أمن الحسنات لا إله إلا الله؟ قال: هي أفضل الحسنات
Answer
Imam Ahmad (rahimahullah) has recorded this Hadith. ‘Allamah Haythami has declared the narrators reliable, but for one unnamed narrator.
(Musnad Ahmad, vol. 5 pg. 169, Majma’uz Zawaid, vol. 10 pg. 81)
However, the Hadith is well corroborated and suitable to quote. See here.
Translation
Sayyiduna Abu Dharr (radiyallahu ‘anhu) once asked Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) for advice. Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “When you carry out an evil deed follow it up with a good deed it will wipe out the [ill effects] of the bad deed. Sayyiduna Abu Dharr (radiyallahu ‘anhu) asked, ‘Is [saying] ‘La ilaha illallah’ regarded to be a good deed? Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) replied, ‘This is the best of good deeds.’
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar