حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ الْحَرَّانِيُّ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ عَمْرِو بْنِ مَالِكٍ النُّكْرِيُّ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبِي يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ أَبِي الْجَوْزَاءِ عَنْ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَفَّارَةُ الذَّنْبِ النَّدَامَةُ وَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لَوْ لَمْ تُذْنِبُوا لَجَاءَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ بِقَوْمٍ يُذْنِبُونَ لِيَغْفِرَ لَهُمْ
مسند امام احمد بن حنبل · Hadith 2623
It was narrated that Ibn Abbas (RA) said: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: "The expiation for sin is regret." And the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: "If you did not sin, Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, would bring another people who would commit sin so that He could forgive them."
Translated by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan · Reviewed by Islamic University of Madinah · Published March 2020