1/59. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 128b — Ten to Seven Hundred Good 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
Ten to Seven Hundred Good Deeds Hadith: Allah’s Mercy in the Record
Sahih Muslim : 128b
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 128b
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ أَيُّوبَ، وَقُتَيْبَةُ، وَابْنُ، حُجْرٍ قَالُوا حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ جَعْفَرٍ - عَنِ الْعَلاَءِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ إِذَا هَمَّ عَبْدِي بِحَسَنَةٍ وَلَمْ يَعْمَلْهَا كَتَبْتُهَا لَهُ حَسَنَةً فَإِنْ عَمِلَهَا كَتَبْتُهَا عَشْرَ حَسَنَاتٍ إِلَى سَبْعِمِائَةِ ضِعْفٍ وَإِذَا هَمَّ بِسَيِّئَةٍ وَلَمْ يَعْمَلْهَا لَمْ أَكْتُبْهَا عَلَيْهِ فَإِنْ عَمِلَهَا كَتَبْتُهَا سَيِّئَةً وَاحِدَةً " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) observed: Allah, the Great and Glorious, said: Whenever my bondsman intends to do good, but does not do it, I write one good act for him, but if he puts it into practice I wrote from ten to seven hundred good deeds in favour of him. When he intends to commit an evil, but does not actually do it, do not record it. But if he does it, I write only one evil.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 128bIn-book reference : Book 1, Hadith 242USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 1, Hadith 234
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 128b
This narration expands the reward for doing good. Allah says that when His servant intends to do good but does not do it, He writes one good act for him. If he puts it into practice, Allah writes from ten to seven hundred good deeds for him. When the servant intends evil but does not do it, it is not recorded. If he does it, one evil is written. This hadith about ten to seven hundred good deeds is a strong call to begin good actions. It also gives hope to someone fighting a bad desire. The record, as described here, shows mercy toward good intention and restraint.
What we learn from this hadith
- Intending good is counted as one good deed even before action.
- Doing the good deed brings a multiplied reward from ten to seven hundred.
- Intended evil is not recorded if it is not done.
- If evil is done, it is written as one evil.
