Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "If a person embraces Islam sincerely, then Allah shall forgive all his past sins, and after that starts the settlement of accounts, the reward of his good deeds will be ten times to seven hundred times for each good deed and one evil deed will be recorded as it is unless Allah forgives it."
The Hadith of Sincere Conversion
Narrated Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "If a person embraces Islam sincerely, then Allah shall forgive all his past sins, and after that starts the settlement of accounts, the reward of his good deeds will be ten times to seven hundred times for each good deed and one evil deed will be recorded as it is unless Allah forgives it." (Sahih al-Bukhari 41)
Commentary on Divine Mercy
This noble hadith establishes the comprehensive mercy of Allah towards those who embrace Islam with sincere intention. The complete forgiveness of previous sins demonstrates Allah's boundless grace, wiping clean the slate of one's spiritual record.
The multiplication of rewards for good deeds - from tenfold to seven hundredfold - reflects Allah's generous nature and His desire to elevate the spiritual station of believers. This multiplication serves as encouragement for righteous actions.
The Principle of Justice and Mercy
The recording of evil deeds "as they are" without multiplication maintains divine justice while preserving the possibility of forgiveness. This balance between justice and mercy characterizes Islamic teachings.
The condition of "sincere embrace" emphasizes the importance of pure intention (niyyah) in Islamic worship and conversion, making internal conviction fundamental to external declaration.
Scholarly Insights
Classical scholars note that this hadith applies to both new Muslims and those returning to sincere practice after negligence. The "settlement of accounts" begins from the moment of genuine commitment.
The varying degrees of reward multiplication depend on factors such as sincerity, circumstances, and the importance of the deed, with greater rewards for more significant acts of worship performed under difficult conditions.