Mujahid says: I entered upon Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) and said: O Abu Abbas! I was with Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both), he recited this verse and began to weep. He asked: Which verse? I said: This verse {لِلّٰہِمَافِیالسَّمٰوَاتِوَمَافِیالْأَرْضِوَإِنْتُبْدُوامَافِیأَنْفُسِکُمْأَوْتُخْفُوہُیُحَاسِبْکُمْبِہِاللّٰہُ … } … To Allah belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth, and whether you disclose what is in your hearts or conceal it, Allah will call you to account for it. Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: When this verse was revealed, the Companions were greatly distressed and said: O Messenger of Allah! We have been destroyed, if we are taken to account for our words and deeds (that is understandable), but our hearts are not under our control. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Say: We have heard and we obey. Then this verse abrogated the ruling of that verse {آمَنَالرَّسُولُبِمَاأُنْزِلَإِلَیْہِمِنْرَبِّہِوَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ … … لَایُکَلِّفُاللّٰہُنَفْسًاإِلَّاوُسْعَہَالَہَامَاکَسَبَتْوَعَلَیْہَامَااکْتَسَبَتْ} thus the thoughts of the soul were forgiven and accountability was kept for actions.
Hadith Referenceالفتح الربانی / أبواب تفسير القرآن وفضائل السور والآيات حسب ترتيب النزول / 8525
Hadith Gradingمحدثین:صحیح
Hadith Takhrij«اسناده صحيح علي شرط الشيخين ۔ أخرجه الطبراني: 10769، (انظر مسند أحمد ترقيم الرسالة: 3070 ترقیم بيت الأفكار الدولية: 3070»
Brief Explanation
Benefits: … The content of these verses has been explained in the following hadith: It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah radi Allahu anhu that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: “Indeed, Allah has pardoned for my ummah whatever thoughts occur within themselves, as long as they do not speak about it or act upon it.” (Sahih Muslim: 181)