Hadith: 'Indeed she has made such a repentance that if it were to be divided among seventy from the people of Madīnah, it would be enough for them all. Has she found something better than offering her own soul to Allah, Glorified and Exalted?

عن أبي نُجَيد عمران بن حصين الخزاعي رضي الله عنه أن امرأة من جهينة أتت رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - وهي حُبْلَى من الزنى، فقالت: يا رسول الله، أصبتُ حدًّا فَأَقِمْهُ عليَّ، فدعا نبيُّ الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وَلِيَّهَا، فقال: «أَحْسِنْ إِلَيْهَا، فإذا وَضَعَتْ فَأْتِنِي» ففعل، فأمر بها نبي الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فَشُدَّتْ عليها ثيابها، ثم أمر بها فَرُجِمَتْ، ثم صلى عليها. فقال له عمر: تُصَلِّي عليها يا رسول الله وقد زنت؟ قال: «لقد تابت توبةً لو قُسِمَتْ بين سبعين من أهل المدينة لَوَسِعَتْهُم، وهل وَجَدَتْ أفضل من أن جَادَتْ بنفسها لله عز وجل ؟!».
[صحيح] - [رواه مسلم]

Abu Nujayd ‘Imrān ibn Husayn al-Khuza‘i (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that a woman from Juhaynah came to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) when she was pregnant from adultery. She said: ''O Messenger of Allah, I have committed something that entails a prescribed punishment on me, so apply it to me.'' The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) called her guardian and said to him: ''Be kind to her, and when she has given birth, come to me.'' He did accordingly. So the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) commanded that her clothes be tied around her, and should be stoned to death. Then he offered the funeral prayer for her. However, ‘Umar said to him: ''O Messenger of Allah, you pray over her although she had committed adultery?'' He said: ''Indeed she has made such a repentance that if it were to be divided among seventy from the people of Madīnah, it would be enough for them all. Has she found something better than offering her own soul to Allah, Glorified and Exalted?''
[Authentic hadith] - [Narrated by Muslim]

Explanation

A woman from the tribe of Juhaynah came to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) as she was pregnant from adultery. She asked him to apply the prescribed punishment to her. Therefore, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) called her guardian and told him to treat her kindly and then bring her to him after she delivers her baby. When she gave birth, her guardian brought her to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) who then ordered that her clothes be tied well around her so that her body would not be exposed, and then ordered stoning her to death. Afterwards, he offered the funeral prayer over her and made supplications for her. ‘Umar wondered why the Prophet prayed over her, despite the fact that she had fornicated. Hence, the Prophet told him that she had made a great repentance that would be useful to seventy sinners from among the people of Madīnah, if it were to be spread over them. That is because the lady came willingly and submitted herself for the sake of Allah, so as to rid herself of her sin. Is there anything greater than what she did?