Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "If any one of you improve (follows strictly) his Islamic religion then his good deeds will be rewarded ten times to seven hundred times for each good deed and a bad deed will be recorded as it is."
Hadith Text and Reference
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "If any one of you improve (follows strictly) his Islamic religion then his good deeds will be rewarded ten times to seven hundred times for each good deed and a bad deed will be recorded as it is."
Source: Sahih al-Bukhari 42 | Book: Belief
Commentary on Divine Mercy and Justice
This noble hadith establishes two fundamental principles of divine recompense: the expansive mercy of Allah in rewarding good deeds and His perfect justice in recording evil deeds. The multiplication of good deeds from ten to seven hundredfold demonstrates Allah's boundless generosity, while the recording of bad deeds as single units reflects His precise justice without exaggeration.
The phrase "improve his Islamic religion" refers to perfecting one's faith through sincere intention, proper adherence to Sunnah, and avoiding innovations. The variation in reward multiplication depends on the sincerity of the doer, the difficulty of the act, and the circumstances of performance.
Scholarly Explanations of Reward Multiplication
Imam Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani explains in Fath al-Bari that the minimum reward of tenfold is guaranteed for every good deed, while higher multiples are granted based on various factors including the doer's piety, the act's timeliness, and its societal benefit.
The maximum of seven hundred times specifically applies to spending in Allah's cause, as mentioned in Quran 2:261. Other good deeds may receive different multiples based on their nature and the doer's sincerity.
Wisdom Behind Single Recording of Bad Deeds
Scholars note that recording bad deeds as single units reflects Allah's mercy and gives hope to sinners. Were evil deeds multiplied like good deeds, despair would overcome creation. This demonstrates Allah's desire to facilitate repentance and encourage reform rather than emphasize punishment.
Furthermore, a single bad deed may be erased through repentance, good deeds that cancel evil, or intercession on Judgment Day - showing multiple paths to divine forgiveness.
Practical Implications for Believers
This teaching should inspire believers to increase in good deeds with full confidence in Allah's generous reward system. It encourages excellence (ihsan) in worship and daily conduct, knowing that even small acts performed with sincerity yield immense spiritual returns.
Simultaneously, it cautions against complacency regarding minor sins, reminding us that while Allah's mercy is vast, His justice is perfect and every deed is accounted for with precision.