Sahih al-Bukhari 2996

• The meaning of this hadith is that a person who is unable to perform their regular good deeds due to illness or travel will still receive rewards from Allah for their intentions and efforts. The rewards for good deeds performed during illness or travel are comparable to those earned while at home in good health. This emphasizes the importance of maintaining one’s faith and good intentions even in adverse circumstances and encourages Muslims to continue striving towards good deeds even when faced with obstacles.

Why Does Allah Reward Deeds Even When One is Unable to Perform Them?

The hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 2996 highlights Allah’s immense mercy and justice by stating that a believer will continue to receive the same rewards for their regular good deeds even if they are unable to perform them due to illness or travel. This concept is deeply rooted in the justice of Allah, the significance of intentions, and the nature of divine reward, all of which are supported by the Quran and other authentic hadith.

1. Allah’s Justice and Mercy

Allah is Al-Adl (The Just) and Ar-Rahman (The Most Merciful), and His justice ensures that a person’s sincere efforts and intentions are not wasted.

• Surah An-Nisa (4:40)
  “Indeed, Allah does not do injustice, [even] as much as an atom’s weight; while if there is a good deed, He multiplies it and gives from Himself a great reward.”
  → This verse confirms that Allah never allows a person’s sincere efforts to go unrewarded, even if they cannot act upon them due to circumstances beyond their control.

• Surah At-Tawbah (9:91-92)
  “There is no blame upon the weak or upon the sick or upon those who do not find what they can spend, if they are sincere to Allah and His Messenger. There is no cause for blame against the doers of good, and Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.”
  → This reinforces that if someone is unable to act due to circumstances beyond their control, they are not held accountable, and Allah still rewards them.

2. The Importance of Intentions in Islam

One of the core principles in Islam is that intentions matter more than the physical act itself, as long as the person is sincere and would have acted if they were able.

• Sahih al-Bukhari 1 (Hadith of Intentions)
  “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘Actions are judged by intentions, and every person will have what they intended…'”
  → This hadith confirms that if a person intends to perform good deeds but is prevented due to unavoidable circumstances, they still receive the reward.

• Sunan Ibn Majah 4228
  “The Prophet (ﷺ) said: ‘Whoever seeks martyrdom with sincerity will be granted the status of a martyr, even if he dies in his bed.'”
  → This further supports that even if someone is unable to achieve their goal due to external factors, Allah rewards them as if they had succeeded.

3. Deeds Are Written Based on Regular Practice

• Sunan Abi Dawood 3091
  “When a believer gets sick or travels, the reward of the deeds that he used to do when he was healthy and at home will still be recorded for him.”
  → This hadith, similar to Sahih al-Bukhari 2996, confirms that if someone had a habit of performing good deeds, but sickness or travel prevents them, Allah still grants them full rewards.

Conclusion

This hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari 2996 is supported by multiple Quranic verses and hadith that emphasize Allah’s justice, mercy, and the importance of sincere intentions. A person who consistently does good deeds will never lose their reward, even if they become unable to continue due to circumstances beyond their control. This reflects Allah’s boundless mercy and serves as motivation for believers to maintain good habits, knowing that even if they are prevented from continuing, their reward remains secure with Allah.