Reaching the age of forty years

3-8-2004 | IslamWeb

Question:

I have read somewhere in an Islamic site that if a person does not live to forty, Allah will reduce his sins. I can't exactly remember what was said but the age of forty was significant. Is this true? Is there any thing in the Quran that states something about the age of forty? Thanks for your service and hope to hear from you soon. (May Allah bless you.)

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Answer:

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.

Reaching the age of forty years is mentioned in the Qur'an. Allah says: "when he attains full strength and reaches forty years, he says: "My Lord! Grant me the power and ability that I may be grateful for Your Favour which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents," (Al-Ahqaf 46:15)

Ibn Katheer said explaining the words "reaches forty years" his mind becomes completed, his intellect and patience become perfected."

There is no evidence that proves that if a person does not reach forty years all his sins are forgiven. Al-Shawkani reported in his book 'Al-Fawaid Al-Majmoa' a Hadith with this wording: "Allah does not write any sin on a son of Adam until forty years and then he recited the verse: "when he attains full strength and reaches forty years. Al-Shawkani said: "it is a fabricated Hadith."

However, there is a Hadith that proves the excellence of reaching forty years. Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, reported from the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) that he said: "If a person reaches forty years in Islam, Allah will protect him from three disasters; insanity, leprosy and impetigo." Abu Ya'la reported it with a sound chain of narration.

Allah knows best.