Righteous Deeds and their Reward

 

This is a promise from Allah to those Children of Adam, male or female, who do righteous deeds - deeds in accordance with the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Prophet , with a heart that believes in Allah and His Messenger , while believing that these deeds are commanded and enjoined by Allah. Allah promises that He will give them a good life in this world and that He will reward them according to the best of their deeds in the Hereafter. The good life includes feeling tranquillity in all aspects of life. It has been reported that Ibn `Abbas and a group (of scholars) interpreted it to mean good, lawful provisions. It was reported that `Ali bin Abi Talib interpreted as contentment. This was also the opinion of Ibn `Abbas, `Ikrimah and Wahb bin Munabbih. `Ali bin Abi Talhah recorded from Ibn `Abbas that it meant happiness. Al-Hasan, Mujahid and Qatadah said: "None gets ﴿this﴾ good life ﴿mentioned﴾ except in Paradise.'' Ad-Dahhak said: "It means lawful provisions and worship in this life''. Ad-Dahhak also said: "It means working to obey Allah and finding joy in that.'' The correct view is that a good life includes all of these things. as found in the Hadith recorded by Imam Ahmad from `Abdullah bin `Amr that the Messenger of Allah said:

«قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَنْ أَسْلَمَ، وَرُزِقَ كَفَافًا، وَقَنَّعَهُ اللهُ بِمَا آتَاه»

(He who submits ﴿becomes a Muslim﴾ has succeeded, is given sufficient provisions, and is content with Allah for what he is given.) It was also recorded by Muslim.

﴿فَإِذَا قَرَأْتَ الْقُرْءَانَ فَاسْتَعِذْ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَـنِ الرَّجِيمِ ﴾

إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ لَهُ سُلْطَانٌ عَلَى الَّذِينَ ءامَنُواْ وَعَلَى رَبّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ- إِنَّمَا سُلْطَـنُهُ عَلَى الَّذِينَ يَتَوَلَّوْنَهُ وَالَّذِينَ هُم بِهِ مُشْرِكُونَ-﴾

(98. So when you recite the Qur'an, seek refuge with Allah from Shaytan, the outcast.) (99. Verily, he has no power over those who believe and put their trust only in their Lord.) (100. His power is only over those who obey and follow him (Shaytan), and those who join partners with Him (Allah).)

من عمل صالحا من ذكر أو أنثى وهو مؤمن فلنحيينه حياة طيبة ولنجزينهم أجرهم بأحسن ما كانوا يعملون

سورة: النحل - آية: ( 97 )  - جزء: ( 14 )  -  صفحة: ( 278 )

(16:97) Whosoever does righteous deeds, whether male or female, provided he is a Believer, We will surely grant him live a pure life in this world. *99 And We will reward such people (in the Hereafter) according to their best deeds. *100

*99) This verse removes the wrong notions of both the Muslims and the disbelievers who are of the opinion that those who adopt a just honest and pious attitude, are most surely losers in this world, though they might be gainers in the Hereafter. AIlah removes this misunderstanding, as if to say, "This presumption of yours is wrong. The righteous attitude not only leads to a happy life in the Hereafter, but it also guarantees, by Allah's grace, a pure and happy life even in this world. " And this is a fact: those people who are sincerely righteous, honest, pure and fair in their dealings. Enjoy a much better life in this world, for they enjoy that confidence and real honour and respect because of their spotless character, which is not enjoyed by those who lack these virtues. They obtain such pure and outstanding successes as are denied to those who employ dirty and disgusting ways to win success. Above all, they enjoy, even though they might be living in huts, that peace of mind and satisfaction of conscience which is denied to the wicked dwellers of mansions and palaces. 
*100) That is, "Their rank in the Hereafter shall be determined according to their best deeds". In other words, "If a person has done both small and great virtues," he will be awarded that high rank which he would merit according to his greatest virtues. 

مَنْ جَاءَ بِالْحَسَنَةِ فَلَهُ عَشْرُ أَمْثَالِهَا ۖ وَمَنْ جَاءَ بِالسَّيِّئَةِ فَلَا يُجْزَىٰ إِلَّا مِثْلَهَا وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ 

Man jaa bialhasanati falahu AAashru amthaliha waman jaa bialssayyiati fala yujza illa mithlaha wahum la yuthlamoona

160 Al-An'am 

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English 

He that doeth good shall have ten times as much to his credit: He that doeth evil shall only be recompensed according to his evil: no wrong shall be done unto (any of) them. 

ASAD-English 

Whoever shall come [before God] with a good deed will gain ten times the like thereof; but whoever shall come with an evil deed will be requited with no more than the like thereof; and none shall be wronged. 

Pickthall-English 

Whoso bringeth a good deed will receive tenfold the like thereof, while whoso bringeth an ill deed will be awarded but the like thereof; and they will not be wronged. 

Qaribullah-English 

He who brings a good deed shall have tenfold of its like, but he who brings a sin shall be recompensed only for its like. None shall be wronged. 

US-English 

Whosoever does good shall be repaid tenfold, but he who commits evil shall be recompensed only in proportion (to the evil done), and they shall not be dealt with unjustly. 

Shakir-English 

Whoever brings a good deed, he shall have ten like it, and whoever brings an evil deed, he shall be recompensed only with the like of it, and they shall not be dealt with unjustly. 

Tafsir al-Jalalayn -English 

Whoever brings a good deed, that is, [the affirmation of] ‘there is no god but God’, shall receive tenfold the like of it, that is, the reward for ten good deeds, and whoever brings an evil deed shall only be requited the like of it, that is, its [appropriate] requital; and they shall not be wronged, nothing shall be diminished from their [just] requital.

وعن أبي العبَّاسِ عبدِ اللهِ بنِ عباسِ بنِ عبد المطلب رضِيَ اللهُ عنهما ، عن رَسُول الله فيما يروي عن ربهِ تباركَ وتعالى قَالَ : « إنَّ اللهَ كَتَبَ الحَسَنَاتِ والسَّيِّئَاتِ ثُمَّ بَيَّنَ ذلِكَ ، فَمَنْ هَمَّ بحَسَنَةٍ فَلَمْ يَعْمَلْهَا كَتَبَها اللهُ تَبَارَكَ وتَعَالى عِنْدَهُ حَسَنَةً كامِلَةً ، وَإنْ هَمَّ بهَا فَعَمِلَهَا كَتَبَهَا اللهُ عَشْرَ حَسَناتٍ إِلى سَبْع مئةِ ضِعْفٍ إِلى أَضعَافٍ كَثيرةٍ ، وإنْ هَمَّ بِسَيِّئَةٍ فَلَمْ يَعْمَلْهَا كَتَبَهَا اللهُ عِنْدَهُ حَسَنَةً كَامِلةً ، وَإنْ هَمَّ بِهَا فَعَمِلَهَا كَتَبَهَا اللهُ سَيِّئَةً وَاحِدَةً » . مُتَّفَقٌ عليهِ .

11. ‘Abdullah bin ‘Abbas (radhiAllahu anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allah (sallaAllahu alayhe wasallam) said that Allah, the Glorious, said: “Verily, Allah has ordered that the good and the bad deeds be written down. Then He explained it clearly how (to write): He who intends to do a good deed but he does not do it, then Allah records it for him as a full good deed, but if he carries out his intention, then Allah the Exalted, writes it down for him as from ten to seven hundred folds, and even more. But if he intends to do an evil act and has not done it, then Allah writes it down with Him as a full good deed, but if he intends it and has done it, Allah writes it down as one bad deed.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen says in his explanation of this hadith:

The saying of the Prophet (sallaAllahu alayhe wasallam) “Verily, Allah has ordered that the good and the bad deeds be written down.” The writing of the good and bad deeds carries two meanings:

 

The first meaning: the writing in the lawh al-mahfuth (the Preserved Tablet). Allah ta’alahas written everything in al-lawh al-mahfuthas He said,

إِنَّا كُلَّ شَيْءٍ خَلَقْنَاهُ بِقَدَرٍَ

Indeed, all things We created with predestination. (al-Qamar 54:49).

and Allah says,

وَكُلُّ صَغِيرٍ وَكَبِيرٍ مُّسْتَطَرٌَ

And every small and great [thing] is inscribed. (al-Qamar 54:53).

So Allah, subhanahu wata’ala, wrote the bad and good deeds in al-lawh al-mahfuth, if the slave acts upon them, then Allah ta’ala writes them in a manner that is in accordance with His Wisdom and befits His Justice and Grace.

 

So these are two writings:

1. A ‘previous’ writing: this is known to Allah – ‘azza wa jal – alone. Every one of us has no knowledge of what Allah has written for him of good or bad until it actually occurs.

 

2. A forthcoming writing: when a person does a certain act, it is written in a manner befitting (Allah’s) Wisdom, Justice and Grace. “Then He explained it clearly” meaning, the Prophet (sallaAllahu alayhe wasallam) explained clearly how this writing takes place. He explained that when a person intends to do a good deed, but does not do it, Allah ta’ala records for him a full good deed.

 

For example: a man performs wudhu in order to recite Quran, but then did not do so, for him a full good deed is recorded.

 

Another example: a man intends to give out sadaqah (charity) and sets aside the money that he wants to give. Then he withholds and does not give this charity; it is still recorded for him as a full good deed. Likewise is the example of one who intended to pray two rak’ahs (voluntary), but then he does not pray, it is still recorded for him as a full good deed.

 

One may question: how is it that a good deed is recorded for him when he did not actually do the deed?

The answer: to this, we say that the favor and grace of Allah is broad. This intention that occurred to the person (to do good) is considered as a good deed because the heart yearns; either in pursuit of good or bad. So if one is determined to do a good deed, then this is a good deed recorded for him. If he actually does it, then Allah records it as 10 good deeds to seven hundred folds, or even more.

This variance in the reward depends on the level of ikhlaas (sincerity) and mutaba’a(performance of the deed in accordance to the way of the Prophet (sallaAllahu alayhe wasallam). Hence, the more sincere a person is to Allah in their acts of worship, the greater the reward. And the closer a person’s worship is to the way of the Prophet (sallaAllahu alayhe wasallam), the more complete it is and the greater the reward. So the level of reward is dependent on the levels of sincerity and adherence to the way of the Messenger of Allah (sallaAllahu alayhe wasallam).

As for the bad deed, he (sallaAllahu alayhe wasallam) said about it: “But if he intends to do an evil act and has not done it, then Allah writes it down with Him as a full good deed.” An example of this is a man who wanted to steal, but remembered Allah – ‘azza wa jal –, was overcome by fear of Him, and abandoned stealing. In this case, a full good deed is recorded for him. Because he left an act of disobedience to Allah, he was rewarded, as is clarified in another narration: ‘for he desisted from doing it for My sake.’(Muslim). So if he intended to do commit an evil, such as backbiting, then recalled that it is forbidden and left it for the sake of Allah, then he is rewarded with a complete good deed.

But if he actually committed the bad deed, it would be written as only one bad deed, none more. Allah ta’ala says

مَن جَاءَ بِالْحَسَنَةِ فَلَهُ عَشْرُ أَمْثَالِهَا ۖ وَمَن جَاءَ بِالسَّيِّئَةِ فَلَا يُجْزَىٰ إِلَّا مِثْلَهَا وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُون

Whoever comes [on the Day of Judgement] with a good deed will have ten times the like thereof [to his credit], and whoever comes with an evil deed will not be recompensed except the like thereof; and they will not be wronged. (Al-An’aam 6:160).

In this hadeeth: there is evidence that one’s intention is taken into account; and that it may lead one to good.

We mentioned before that if a person intended to do evil, and proceeded with the actions that lead to this evil, but was eventually unable to do it, then the sin of the doer is recorded for him, as in the hadeeth of two Muslims who meet with their swords: ‘When two Muslims fight (meet) each other with their swords, both the murderer as well as the murdered will go to the Hell-fire.’ They said, ‘O Allah’s Apostle! It is all right for the murderer but what about the murdered one?’  he replied, “He surely had the intention to kill his companion.”(Agreed Upon).

And Allah is the Granter of Success.