Abu Ayub reported,

"I had kept something hidden from you that I heard from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say, 'Were it not that you sin, Allah would create a people who would sin so that He could forgive them.'"

Azami 13202

Sahih

حين حضرت أبا أيوب الوفاة.

عن أبي أيوب

كنت كتمت عنكم شيئا سمعته من رسول الله ﷺ، سمعت رسول الله ﷺ يقول: لولا أنكم تذنبون لخلق الله خلقا يذنبون يغفر لهم.

الأعظمي 13202صحيح
Contents
Reference
Commentary
Ayat
Collection
Jami al-Kamil
Book
Tafsir of the great Quran
Chapter
Tafsir of Surah Zumar
Section
His saying, "Say, O My servants who have transgressed against themselves, do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, He is the Forgiving, the Merciful"
Numbering
Jami al-Kamil 13202 (2nd edition)
Azami 13202