The Story of the Man Who Killed 100 – A Reminder of Allah’s Mercy
When we think of someone who has committed countless sins, we often imagine a soul too far gone, a heart beyond saving. But the beauty of Islam lies in the fact that no sin is greater than Allah’s mercy. No matter how dark a person’s past may be, the doors of forgiveness remain open for anyone who turns to Him sincerely.
One of the most powerful stories recorded in both Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim is that of a man who killed ninety-nine people. Yes, ninety-nine. And then one more.
This man was deeply sinful, but something within him stirred. A longing. A question. Could he ever be forgiven?
He went to a devout worshipper and asked, “Is there any chance for someone like me to repent?”
The worshipper replied, “No.”
This answer crushed the man’s hope. So he killed the worshipper too. Now his count stood at one hundred.
But the fire of regret still burned in his heart. He went in search again, and this time he asked a scholar. The scholar, wiser and more deeply aware of Allah’s mercy, said something that changed everything:
“Yes, you can be forgiven. Who can ever come between a servant and the mercy of Allah?”
The scholar advised him to leave his town, which was full of evil and sin, and travel to a place where people were devoted to Allah. He told him that a change in environment would help him transform his life.
So the man set off. With a heart full of hope, carrying the burden of a terrible past but moving towards light.
But on his journey, death caught up with him.
Angels descended to take his soul, and a dispute broke out between the angels of mercy and the angels of punishment.
“He killed one hundred people,” said the angels of punishment.
“But he was on his way to change,” argued the angels of mercy.
Allah, in His infinite justice and compassion, instructed them to measure the distance between where he died and the place he was going to. If he was closer to the land of righteousness, he would be forgiven.
And here is the most profound part of the story. Allah caused the earth to shift, so that the man would be found closer to the place of goodness. The angels of mercy were told to take his soul. And just like that, he was forgiven.
This is not just a story of a murderer. It is a story for all of us. For the times we think we have gone too far. For the moments we feel too ashamed to raise our hands in du’ā. For every tear we shed in regret and every attempt we make to return to Allah.
The lesson is clear, Allah’s mercy knows no limits.
It does not matter what you have done
It does not matter how many times you have failed
What matters is that you turn back to Him
Because He is Al-Ghaffar – The Constant Forgiver
He is Al-Rahman – The Most Compassionate
He is Al-Tawwab – The One who accepts repentance again and again
You do not have to be perfect to be loved by Allah
You just have to be sincere
Let this story be a reminder to never despair of Allah’s mercy.
Let it give hope to every heart that feels unworthy.
And let it inspire you to take that first step back to the One who never stopped waiting for you.
“Say, O My servants who have wronged their souls, do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Truly, He is the Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.”
(Qur’ān 39:53)
If this story touched your heart, share it with someone who needs to hear it. And if you’re ready to deepen your understanding of Allah and shift the way you relate to Him, I invite you to listen to the recorded workshop Let’s Stop Perceiving Allah as We Perceive Humans.
It’s a powerful reminder of who Allah truly is, beyond fear, beyond cultural misconceptions, and beyond our limited human understanding.
Watch the full workshop here:
https://youtu.be/JFXe7va820A?si=QwY7k_apqqEG94V1
Let’s unlearn the fear
Let’s rediscover the mercy
Let’s come back home to Allah