4689 - Abu Salih al-Antaki narrated to us, Abu Ishaq al-Fazari informed us, from al-A'mash, from Abu Salih, from Abu Hurayrah, who said: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "The fornicator does not fornicate while he is a believer when he fornicates, and the thief does not steal while he is a believer when he steals, and the wine-drinker does not drink wine while he is a believer when he drinks it, and repentance remains available thereafter."

=============================================
It was also recorded by al-Bukhari (34), Muslim (58) (106), and al-Tirmidhi (2821) via the route of Sufyan, and al-Nasa'i in "al-Kubra" (8681) via the route of Shu'bah, both from Sulayman al-A'mash, with it.
It is also in "Musnad Ahmad" (6768), and "Sahih Ibn Hibban" (254).

Al-Sindi said, regarding his statement: "And when he quarrels, he commits fujur": Fujur in language means deviation, and in sacred law it means deviation from the right course and turning away from the truth. What is meant by it here is insulting and casting vile accusations and slander.

(1) Its chain is sound. Abu Salih al-Antaki: he is Mahbub ibn Musa, and Abu Ishaq al-Fazari: he is Ibrahim ibn Muhammad ibn al-Harith.
It was also recorded by al-Bukhari (6810), Muslim (57) (104) and (105), al-Tirmidhi (2813), and al-Nasa'i in "al-Kubra" (7315) via multiple routes from al-A'mash, with this chain.
It was also recorded by al-Nasa'i in "al-Kubra" (7314) via the route of al-Qa'qa' ibn Hakim, from Abu Salih, with it.
It was also recorded by al-Bukhari (2475), (5578), and (6772), Muslim (57) (100), (101), (102), and (103), Ibn Majah (3936), and al-Nasa'i in "al-Kubra" (5149), (5150), and (7088-7095) via multiple routes from Abu Hurayrah.
Some narrated it without his statement: "And repentance remains available thereafter," and some added: "Nor does he seize plunder, with people raising their eyes toward him, while he is a believer when he seizes it."

Al-Khattabi said: The Khawarij and those who follow their doctrine, among those who declare Muslims disbelievers for sins, use this as evidence and interpret it in other than its proper sense. Its interpretation among the scholars is on two aspects: