Intention and Action in Determining Deeds

📖Sahih Muslim 131a
Ibn Abbas narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Verily, Allah recorded the good and the evil and then made it clear: Whoever intends to do good but does not do it, Allah records one complete good for him. If he intends it and also does it, Allah records ten to seven hundred virtues, or even more. But if he intends evil but does not commit it, Allah writes one good in his favor. If he intends and commits it, Allah records only one evil against him.”

Explanation

This hadith highlights Allah’s justice and mercy in rewarding and accounting for human actions. It also serves as clear evidence of free will, as individuals are judged based on their choices and intentions rather than being forced into good or evil.

This Hadith Indicates Free Will

🔹 Intentions Determine Rewards and Punishments
➤ If deeds were predetermined without choice, intentions would hold no significance. However, the hadith shows that merely intending to do good earns a reward, proving that individuals have the freedom to choose their actions.

🔹 The Power to Resist Sin
➤ If a person intends to commit a sin but refrains, Allah rewards them for their self-restraint. This proves that sin is not forced upon anyone, but rather, people have the ability to resist and make moral choices.

🔹 Actions Are Multiplied by Choice
➤ If someone chooses to act upon good intentions, Allah multiplies their reward up to seven hundred times. This demonstrates that human actions lead to personal accountability—they are not pre-written without their will.

🔹 Limited Consequence for Sins
➤ Unlike good deeds, sins are recorded only once, proving that evil is not imposed upon humans, but rather occurs by their own free choice.

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Qur’anic Context

📖Surah Al-Kahf (18:29)
“And say: The truth is from your Lord, so whoever wills—let him believe; and whoever wills—let him disbelieve.”
➤ This verse affirms human free will, showing that faith is a personal choice, not something forced upon people.

📖Surah Az-Zalzalah (99:7-8)
“So whoever does an atom’s weight of good will see it, and whoever does an atom’s weight of evil will see it.”
➤ This confirms that each person’s actions will be accounted for, further proving that human decisions shape their destiny.

📖Surah An-Najm (53:39-41)
“And that man shall have nothing but what he strives for. And that his striving will soon be seen. Then he will be recompensed with a full and best recompense.”
➤ This verse highlights that rewards and consequences depend on personal effort, which aligns perfectly with the hadith’s emphasis on intention and action.

This hadith, supported by Qur’anic evidence, clearly proves that humans have free will in choosing between good and evil. Allah’s justice ensures that intentions and actions determine a person’s rewards or punishments. This demonstrates that Islamic accountability is based on personal choices, not predetermined fate.