Brief Comments of Shaikh Ibn Baaz on Saheeh al-Bukhaaree #20

The prayer expiates sins

بـسـم الله والحـمـد لله والـصلاة والـسـلام عــلى رسـول الله، وبـعـد

Imaam al-Bukhaaree رحمه الله said:

Book of Prayer Times: Chapter: Prayer expiates sins

Narrated Shaqeeq that he had heard Hudhaifah رضي الله عنه saying: “Once we were sitting with `Umar رضي الله عنه and he said: “Who amongst you remembers the statement of Allaah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم about the afflictions?” I said: “I know it as the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم had said it.” `Umar said: “No doubt you are bold.” I said: “The afflictions ^[1] caused for a man by his wife, money, ^[2] children and neighbor are expiated by his prayers, fasting, charity and by enjoining (what is good) and forbidding (what is evil).” `Umar said: “I did not mean that but I asked about that affliction which will spread like the waves of the sea.” <sup>[3]</sup> I (Hudhaifah) said: “O leader of the faithful believers! You need not be afraid of it as there is a closed door between you and it.” `Umar asked: “Will the door be broken or opened?” I replied: “It will be broken.” `Umar said: “Then it will never be closed again.” I was asked whether `Umar knew that door. I replied that he knew it as one knows that there will be night before the tomorrow morning. I narrated a Hadeeth that was free from any misstatement.” The sub-narrator added that they deputized Masrooq to ask Hudhaifah (about the door). Hudhaifah said: “The door was 'Umar himself.” ^[4] [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (525, 1895, 3586, 7096) and Saheeh Muslim (276, 6914)]

Narrated Ibn Mas`ood رضي الله عنه: A man kissed a woman (unlawfully) and then went to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and informed him. So Allaah تعالى revealed:

﴿وَأَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ طَرَفَيِ النَّهَارِ وَزُلَفًا مِّنَ اللَّيْلِ ۚ إِنَّ الْحَسَنَاتِ يُذْهِبْنَ﴾

{And offer prayers (perfectly) at the two ends of the day and in some hours of the night (i.e. the five compulsory prayers). Verily! Good deeds remove (annul) the evil deeds (i.e. small sins)} [Surah Hood (11): 114]. The man asked Allaah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم: “Is this instruction for me only?” He صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

لِجَمِيعِ أُمَّتِي كُلِّهِمْ

“It is for all my followers.” ^[5] [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (526, 4687, 6823) and Saheeh Muslim (6655, 6656, 6657, 6658)]

Shaikh Ibn Baaz رحمه الله said:

* This is a great Hadeeth.

[1] His wife and children may cause him to slip and he commits sins because of them, like using foul language or something similar to it (from the minor sins), then prayer expiates such sins.

[2] Spending money in disobedience.

[3] A major affliction.

[4] Meaning: when `Umar is killed, the afflictions will appear. And the first sign was the dispute about (the legitimate caliphate of) `Uthmaan رضي الله عنه (which the Khawaarij refused to acknowledge) and (which ultimately led to) his killing.

[5] This indicates that if a person commits minor sins, and repents for it (sincerely), he will not be punished.

Reference:

الحلل الإبريزية من التعليقات البازية على صحيح البخاري