Riyad as-Salihin, 15

Anas bin Malik Al-Ansari (MayAllah be pleased with him) the servant of the Messenger of Allah narrated:

Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Verily, Allah is more delighted with the repentance of His slave than a person who lost his camel in a desert land and then finds it (unexpectedly)". [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]. In another version of Muslim, he said: "Verily, Allah is more pleased with the repentance of His slave than a person who has his camel in a waterless desert carrying his provision of food and drink and it is lost. He, having lost all hopes (to get that back), lies down in shade and is disappointed about his camel; when all of a sudden he finds that camel standing before him. He takes hold of its reins and then out of boundless joy blurts out: 'O Allah, You are my slave and I am Your Rubb'.He commits this mistake out of extreme joy".

وعن أبي حمزة أنس بن مالك الأنصارى خادم رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، رضي الله عنه قال‏:‏ قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏:‏ ‏"‏ لله أفرح بتوبة عبده من أحدكم سقط على بعيره وقد أضله في أرض فلاة ‏"‏ ‏(‏‏(‏متفق عليه‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏ وفى رواية لمسلم‏:‏ لله أشد فرحا بتوبة عبده حين يتوب إليه من أحدكم كان على راحلته بأرض فلاة، فانفلتت منه وعليها طعامه وشرابه فأيس منها، فأتى شجرة فاضطجع في ظلها، وقد أيس من راحلته، فبينما هو كذلك إذا هو بها، قائمة عنده ، فأخذ بخطامها ثم قال من شدة الفرح‏:‏ اللهم أنت عبدي وأنا ربك، أخطأ من شدة الفرح‏"‏‏.‏

References1 variant

In-Book Reference: Introduction, Hadith 15

Sharh · explanationclick to expand

Guidance from the Hadith: 1) Encouraging repentance because Allah loves it and is pleased with His servant when he repents. 2) The love of Allah Almighty for the repentance of His servant is in the servant’s interest, because Allah loves to forgive and pardon. To Him, pardoning is more pleasing than punishment, thus He is happy with the repentance of His servant. 3) Establishing the attribute of happiness to Allah, the Exalted; for indeed He shows happiness, anger, love, and hate. But: {There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing.} [Surat ash-Shūra: 11] It is a happiness that befits His Majesty and Glory, and it does not resemble the happiness of creatures. Benefit: Unlike the individual who intentionally or mockingly utters a word of disbelief, the individual who inadvertently or mistakenly utters it is not to be held accountable for it; which is a reflection of the mercy of Allah Almighty. This is similar to the situation of the man who said: “O Lord! You are my servant and I am Your lord.” Words in the Hadith: rein: the rope used to lead the camel.

Related hadiths4