“Whoever fasts the month of Ramaḍān out of faith and seeking reward shall have his past sins forgiven; and whoever stands (in prayer) on the Night of al-Qadr out of faith and seeking reward shall have his past sins forgiven.”

Narrated by al-Bukhārī (2014) and Muslim (760) from the ḥadīth of Abū Hurayrah — may Allah be pleased with him.

Brief Explanation of the Hadith

Allah, Exalted is He, has blessed this Ummah with immense favors and opened for it vast avenues through which good deeds may be attained and sins expiated. Among the greatest of these blessings is what has come in this noble ḥadīth, narrated by Abū Hurayrah — may Allah be pleased with him — in which the Prophet — may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him — clarifies the tremendous virtue of fasting Ramaḍān and standing in prayer on the Night of al-Qadr for the one who purifies his intention and whose faith is sincere.
The meaning of his statement — may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him — “out of faith (īmānan)” is: believing in the obligation of fasting, acknowledging that it is an act of worship legislated by Allah, and being aware of its virtue and the magnitude of its reward. Thus, the believer fasts in obedience to Allah’s command — not out of mere habit, nor for display or reputation.
As for his statement “seeking reward (iḥtisāban)”, its meaning is: that he fasts hoping for reward from Allah alone, counting his recompense with Him, with a heart content and at ease with the fast — neither resentful of it nor finding its days burdensome. Rather, he performs it willingly and joyfully as an act of devotion by which he draws near to his Lord, and as a means to attain His forgiveness and His good pleasure.
Whoever is in such a state is promised the tremendous reward with which the Prophet — may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him — gave glad tidings in his words: “He shall have his past sins forgiven.”
What is meant by forgiveness here is the forgiveness of minor sins, not major ones — due to the statement of the Prophet — may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him — in another ḥadīth: “The five daily prayers, one Jumuʿah to the next, and Ramaḍān to the next Ramaḍān are expiations for what occurs between them so long as the major sins are avoided.” This indicates that avoiding major sins is a condition for attaining the promised forgiveness. However, some scholars have held that forgiveness may include even major sins, and the bounty of Allah, Exalted is He, is vast.
He — may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him — then said: “And whoever stands (in prayer) on the Night of al-Qadr out of faith and seeking reward shall have his past sins forgiven.” That is: whoever spends that blessed night in prayer, remembrance, supplication, seeking forgiveness, and other forms of obedience — fully certain of its virtue and hoping for its reward from Allah, Exalted is He — Allah will forgive him his past sins, according to what has preceded in explanation.
In this ḥadīth is evidence of the vastness of Allah’s mercy and generosity, for He has made mere fasting and night-standing — when accompanied by sincerity of intention — a cause for the forgiveness of past sins. It is an exhortation to seize the seasons of goodness and to turn to Allah with humbled hearts and sincere souls.
The ḥadīth also contains a clear indication that righteous deeds do not flourish nor are they accepted unless they are accompanied by iḥtisāb (seeking reward from Allah) and sincerity of intention. Sincerity is the very spirit of every deed; through it actions are elevated and rewards multiplied.