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But it is the decision that is just short of a complete resolution to do the deed.2 Similarly, al-Bugha and Mistu say that hamm is the decision to do an act and it is greater than simply a contemplation that occurs in the heart.3 Sultaan also agrees with that assessment.4 The Reward for Deciding to do a Good Deed even if One Does not Do it When a person decides to do a good deed, even though he ends up not doing it, Allah records for him one good deed. Allah states that He records it "with Him". This is a way of giving honor or prestige to that act. Furthermore, Allah stresses that it is a "complete" good deed, without any deficiency. That way, no one can imagine that there is a good deed recorded but it is not a complete good deed. 5 1 Here the word is araad ("wants to do"), which definitely implies that the intention is there. In other words, it could not simply be a fleeting thought that has occurred to the person's mind but it is hamm as defined above. 2 Ibn Rajab, Jaami, vol. 2, p. 3 19. 3 Al-Bugha and Mistu, p. 3 16. 4 Sultaan, p. 326. 5 Cf., ibn Hajr, Fath, vol. 1 3, p. 1 22. Also note the statements by al-Nawawi after he recorded the hadith. 1 1 14 Hadith #37: "Allah recorded the Good Deeds . . . " Al-Toofi stated that having the intention or deciding to do a good deed is in itself a good deed. This is because it is the first step that leads to doing a good deed. Therefore, Allah records it as one good deed. 1 At this point, though, someone could ask: If deciding to do a good deed is a good deed in itself, why is it not multiplied like other good deeds, as in the verse, "Whoever brings a good deed shall have ten times the like thereof' (al-Anaam 1 60)? The response is that this verse is talking about the actual physical deeds while the thought in the heart is an exception to that general ruling. Hence, the decision in the heart gets recorded as a good deed but the multiplication is only when the decision is actually acted upon.2 However, this might still lead to another question: If this decision in the heart is enough to warrant the recording of one good deed, why is the simple decision to do an evil deed not enough to warrant the recording of one evil deed? The response is that when the person then decides not to perform that evil deed, he has done an additional act that expiates his evil decision and he has gone against his desires. This, in itself, is good on his part. Therefore, a good deed is recorded for him in that case too. According to al-Qaari, the reward for deciding on a good deed is only in the case where the person wants to do the deed but is not able to do it.3 However, the apparent meaning of this hadith is that the person ends up not doing the good deed regardless of whether that was due to some preventing factor or not. Indeed, if it had been as al-Qaari concluded, one would expect the Prophet (peace be upon him) to have said, "If one decides to do a good deed but he is not able to perform it . . . " According to ibn Hajr, the level of reward will be different depending on the reasons that the person did not perform the act. If the person is prevented from performing the deed due to external reasons beyond his control and, in addition, he is saddened by the fact that he could not perform the act, then his reward would be the greatest. However, if he decided not to do the act of his own volition, then his reward would be less than in the previous case. If the person does something opposite of what he was originally going to do, such as instead of giving a dollar in charity he spends it on something forbidden, then, according to ibn Hajr, he would not have a good deed recorded for him at all.4 In another hadith, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, 1 Quoted in ibn Hajr, Fath, vol. 1 3 p. 123. 2 lbn Hajr, Fath, vol. 1 3, p. 123. 3 Al-Qaari, vol. 5, p. 1 59. 4 lbn Hajr, Fath, vol. 1 3, p. 123. 1 1 15 Commentary on the Forty Hadith of al-Nawawi ,. // ,..., ... ... J ... -JS rP / ,,, J J """"' ..W:.' \' , w' ". t 0..:.:., ' " 0J\J l൶ : . ৉ Hadith #37: "Allah recorded the Good Deeds . . . " <> (_ '" J· ·r ੳ·/'"L Ǖ , . (_ J 1\ dI J ৈ/· '" J.r '" .1./'"L .&I ে/ ൲) . ..... . . ·DE ெ) F y . -· r ; / .... ,,. ...1 ,,.. u......