1/59. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 128a — Good Intentions and the Recording of Deeds
If a person thinks of doing a good deed it will be recorded for him, and if he thinks of doing a bad deed it will not be recorded for him
Good Deeds Multiplied Hadith: Intention, Action, and Mercy
Sahih Muslim : 128a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 128a
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَزُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، وَإِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، - وَاللَّفْظُ لأَبِي بَكْرٍ قَالَ إِسْحَاقُ أَخْبَرَنَا سُفْيَانُ، وَقَالَ الآخَرَانِ، حَدَّثَنَا - ابْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ، عَنِ الأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ إِذَا هَمَّ عَبْدِي بِسَيِّئَةٍ فَلاَ تَكْتُبُوهَا عَلَيْهِ فَإِنْ عَمِلَهَا فَاكْتُبُوهَا سَيِّئَةً وَإِذَا هَمَّ بِحَسَنَةٍ فَلَمْ يَعْمَلْهَا فَاكْتُبُوهَا حَسَنَةً فَإِنْ عَمِلَهَا فَاكْتُبُوهَا عَشْرًا " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: The Great and the Glorious Lord said (to angels): Whenever My servant intends to commit an evil, do not record it against him, but if he actually commits it, then write it as one evil. And when he intends to do good but does not do it, then take it down is one act of goodness, but if he does it, then write down ten good deeds (in his record).
Reference : Sahih Muslim 128aIn-book reference : Book 1, Hadith 241USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 1, Hadith 233
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 128a
Abu Huraira reports that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم narrated from Allah that when a servant intends an evil, it is not recorded against him. If he does it, it is written as one evil. When he intends a good deed but does not do it, it is written as one act of goodness. If he does it, it is written as ten good deeds. This hadith about good deeds multiplied gives a clear view of mercy in the record of deeds. Good intention matters. Good action matters even more. Evil is not inflated in this wording. The hadith encourages a person to choose good quickly and to stop before a bad intention becomes action.
What we learn from this hadith
- An intended evil is not recorded unless it is actually done.
- An intended good deed is recorded even if it is not completed.
- A completed good deed is recorded as ten good deeds in this narration.
- Allah’s recording of deeds shows mercy and fairness.
