. J; 1," (cont.)

1 ;: _rt J'...:f) ; : :- 6 • if J "Whoever brings an evil deed shall have only the recompense of the like thereof, and they will not be wronged" (al-Anaam 160). Note that when a person intends to do a good deed, that in itself is a good deed and the performance of that deed leads to it being multiplied a minimum of ten times. When a person intends on committing a sin, that is not recorded as a sin. But when he does the sin, it is recorded as one evil deed. He does not get one evil deed recorded for his intention and a second evil deed recorded for his actually performing the deed. 1 Evil Deeds are Not Multiplied But Their Magnitudes May Differ This hadith makes it clear that the evil deeds are not multiplied by Allah. There is a narration from Mujaahid, a Follower, that states, "Sins committed in Makkah are multiplied, in the same way that the good deeds are multiplied."2 Mujaahid's statement is a very common notion. However, it may not be correct. Commenting on that notion, ibn Baaz wrote, As for sins, according to those scholars who researched this matter in detail, they are not multiplied with respect to their quantity although they may be increased with respect to their quality. But their quantity is never multiplied. This is because Allah has said, "Whoever comes with a good deed shall have ten like similar to it and who ever comes with an evil deed shall be recompensed only what is similar to it." Therefore, sins are never multiplied, not during Ramadhan3, not in the confines of the Noble Sanctuary nor at any other time [or place]. Certainly, one sin is always one sin and this is part of His mercy and grace.4 In that passage, ibn Baaz has noted two important points: First, Allah never multiplies a person's evil deed. One evil deed is always going to be one deed in the scale. Second, though, the evil deeds are not all of the same weight 1 Cf., ibn Abdul-Salaam's statement in ibn Hajr, Fath, vol. 1 3, p. 123. 2 Quoted in ibn Rajab, Jaami, vol. 2, p. 3 1 8. 3 Al-Haitami (Fath, p. 265) noted that there are some weak hadith that state that the sins are multiplied during Ramadhan. 4 Quoted in Sultaan, p. 33 1 . 1 121 - Commentary on the Forty Hadith of al-Nawawi and gravity. Some deeds are much graver than others. For example, there are some sins that the Prophet (peace be upon him) called the destructive sins, these including associating partners with Allah, adultery, murder and so forth. At the same time, depending on numerous factors, one sin may be graver at one time than at another time. This could occur for a number of reasons, including: 1 (1) The sanctity of the time may increase the gravity of a sin. For example, according to Qataadah, zulm (wrongdoing) committed during the Inviolable Months is a greater sin than when committed at other times. zulm at all times, he said, is unacceptable but Allah has the right to declare it a worse sin for whatever time He wills. This is based on the Quranic verse, / / J ,;' "J / J II J J / J_G.- ; : Atll '""7" (_b=> J \;., Hadith #37: "Allah recorded the Good Deeds . . . " This is because the referred to action is completely inexcusable from someone in the Prophet's position. Allah has said, \ࣺ\ ࣷ ,j 1 "'ɗ \.:'\ হ ' , ... \ J ... , ... _ :;; , ,.... '.-=-স j ... ,,.; ୊\ ''_;..J ...... ..,, 0 J୬ • • . . ൪ ..:...i ...u ...>.JLJ ನ ' • • • • :it ) _ . . . ൬r . o ; / ,,. ; ,,,. "And had We not made you stand firm, you would nearly have inclined to them [the disbelievers] a little. In that case, We would have made you taste a double portion [of punishment] in this life and a double portion after death. And then you would have found none to help you against Us" (al-Israa 74-75). Allah also says concerning the Prophet's wives, J ..,. ,,,. J ..,. / yl:WI 4J j;•"',/1 Commentary on the Forty Hadith of al-Nawawi concealed by his Lord and in the morning he uncovered what Allah had kept concealed for him." (Recorded by al-Bukhari and Muslim.) (7) The enormity of a sin is also greater when there is less drive causing the person to commit that sin. In such cases, there is very little excuse for the person. He was not in a state where he was so overcome by desire that he could not control himself. This is what the Prophet (peace be upon him) stated, Ʉ (fl ,,., " Hadith #37: "Allah recorded the Good Deeds . . . " evil to the amount of at least ten times the good he does.