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Allah says, 1 It should be noted that this is just one understanding of the verse and it may be based on a report that is questionable. Another understanding of the verse is that those who were patient shall receive their reward without any reckoning in the Hereafter. See the commentary of al­ Samaani vis-a-vis ibn Katheer: Abu al-Mudhafar al-Samaani, Ta/seer al-Quran (Riyadh: Daar al­ Watn, 1997), vol. 4, p. 462; ibn Katheer, Ta/seer, vol. 4, p. 5 1 . 2 Ibn Rajab, Jaami, vol. 2, p. 3 1 6. 3 A hadith in Sahih al-Bukhari also gives the same meaning. 4 Ibn Hajr [Fath (al-Maktab al-Tijaariyyah), vol. 13, p. 1 24] says that it is possible that when one does not do an evil act that he had decided upon, it is in itself a good deed and will be recorded as a good deed. But if the person refrains from that evil deed for the sake of Allah, then that act of refrain will be multiplied and will not simply be one good deed. Although this may be feasible and well within what one may expect of Allah's mercy, it is not what is explicitly stated in either this hadith or the other related hadith. Allah knows best. 1 1 19 . Commentary on the Forty Hadith of al-Nawawi "But as for him who feared standing before his Lord and restrained himself from impure evil desires and lusts, verily, Paradise will be his abode" (al­ Naaziaat 40-41 ). Sometimes a person may decide not to perform an evil deed simply out of fear of others or for the sake of show. In this case, some scholars say that be will be held responsible for that intention as he gave preference to the fear of men over the fear of Allah or because he is intending to show himself as a pious person.1 Furthermore, if a person decides to do an evil deed and does what be can to perform it but be is simply not to able to do it, he will also be held accountable for that evil intention. This is like the case mentioned earlier of the killer and the killed both being in the Hell-fire because each did what he could to kill the other. In fact, in the hadith just quoted, praising the one who refrains from an evil deed, the word tarakaha ("left it") is used. Al-Khattaabi pointed out that, in general, this word is only used for the person who has the ability to do something but he does not do it. 2 Some have questioned that since it is the case that when a person decides to do a good deed and it is counted as a good deed, shouldn't his decision to do an evil deed be counted as an evil deed. The response is that this is part of the mercy and blessings from Allah. Allah records the evil deeds of people and holds them responsible for them as an act of justice on His part. And He forgives some deeds and disregards the decision to do evil as an act of mercy on His part. Furthermore, there may be a great wisdom behind this mercy from Allah. When a person commits a sin, the sin is not going to be multiplied. Now, if he is already going to be held sinful just for deciding to commit a sin, then he might as well go ahead and commit that sin. There is no incentive for him not to commit the sin as, if he does it or not, he will already be receiving one sin for his decision. However, by Allah's mercy, if he changes his mind and decides not to commit that sin, not only will that not be held against him as one sin but, instead, it will be transformed into a good deed for him. On the other hand, when a person decides to do a good deed, he should not stop there simply because he has a good deed recorded for him. Instead, he should go forward and do that good deed as, when he actually does it, it will be multiplied for him. And all praises are to Allah. 1 Cf., ibn Rajab, Jaami, vol. 2, p. 321 . 2 Quoted in ibn Hajr, Fath, vol. 1 3, p . 124. 1 120 Hadith #37: "Allah recorded the Good Deeds . . . " "If he decided to do it and he actually did it, Allah records it as one evil deed." Allah never wrongs any of His creatures in any way. If a person commits an evil deed, it is recorded as one deed and only one deed without any multiplication to it. This is also stated in the Quran where Allah says, J ; ǹJ J .., ::z J ,,,. ,J - :_-_ I \;.:. ,, l ; ' ;· ;' \ - ''I T ൭ǹ ...