Verily Allah recorded the good and the evil and then made it clear that he who intended good but did not do it, Allah recorded one complete good in his favour, but if he intended it and also did it, the Glorious and Great Allah recorded ten to seven hundred virtues and even more to his credit. But it he intended evil, but did not commit it, Allah wrote down full one good in his favour. If he intended that and also committed it, Allah made an entry of one evil against him.
The Book of Faith - Sahih Muslim 131a
This commentary examines the profound ḥadīth concerning Allah's recording of intentions and deeds, as narrated in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim.
The Nature of Divine Recording
Allah, in His infinite wisdom, has established a comprehensive system of recording human actions and intentions. This demonstrates His perfect knowledge encompassing both manifest and hidden matters.
The recording occurs in the Preserved Tablet (al-Lawḥ al-Maḥfūẓ) and is also manifested through the angels who record human deeds continuously.
The Excellence of Good Intentions
When a believer forms a sincere intention to perform a good deed but is prevented by legitimate excuse, Allah records one complete reward. This reflects divine mercy and recognizes the value of pure intention in Islamic spirituality.
The intention (niyyah) is the foundation upon which actions are judged, as established in the Prophetic tradition: "Actions are but by intentions."
Multiplication of Rewards
When good intention is coupled with action, Allah multiplies the reward from ten to seven hundred times and beyond. This multiplication varies based on sincerity, circumstances, and the act's benefit to creation.
Scholars explain this multiplication reflects Allah's boundless generosity and serves as encouragement for believers to excel in righteous deeds.
Divine Mercy Regarding Evil Intentions
If one entertains an evil thought but refrains from acting upon it due to fear of Allah, this restraint is recorded as a complete good deed. This demonstrates how abandoning sin for Allah's sake becomes an act of worship.
The recording of one good for abandoning evil emphasizes Islam's focus on practical piety and self-restraint.
The Recording of Actualized Evil
When evil intention is actualized through action, only one sin is recorded. Scholars note this reflects divine justice tempered with mercy, as Allah could record multiple sins for a single evil act but chooses limitation.
This contrasts with the multiplication of good deeds, highlighting Allah's preferential treatment of mercy over wrath.
Spiritual Implications
This ḥadīth teaches believers to value intentions and understand that spiritual accounting considers both inner states and outward actions.
It encourages cultivating pure intentions and demonstrates Islam's balanced approach to spiritual development, recognizing human struggles while encouraging moral excellence.