Four Things about Allah’s Attributes
Sahih Muslim 179 c
Abu Musa reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was standing amongst us and (he said) four (things): Verily Allah does not sleep and it does not befit Him to sleep. He raises the scale and lowers it. The deeds of the day are presented to Him in the night and the deeds of the night in the day.
This hadith from Sahih Muslim 179 c describes four things that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
- Allah does not sleep: This means that Allah (God) is not like human beings who get tired and need to sleep. Allah is always aware of everything that happens in the universe, and is always watching over His creation.
- It does not befit Him to sleep: This means that sleep is not something that is appropriate for Allah. As the Creator of the universe, He is always active and engaged in running the world.
- He raises the scale and lowers it: This refers to the scales of justice that will be used on the Day of Judgment to weigh people’s good deeds against their bad deeds. Allah has the power to raise or lower the scales, meaning that He can increase the weight of someone’s good deeds or decrease the weight of their bad deeds.
- The deeds of the day are presented to Him in the night and the deeds of the night in the day: This means that Allah is always aware of what people are doing, even if they think they are doing it in secret. The angels record people’s deeds and present them to Allah, who is always aware of everything that happens.
Recording of Deeds: Divine Justice and Time
In Islam, Allah is All-Knowing and does not require records to be aware of human actions. However, He has established a system where angels record every deed and present them at specific intervals. This system serves as a means of divine justice and accountability for humans, not because Allah needs it.
1. The Role of Angels in Recording Deeds
The Qur’an affirms that Allah has appointed angels, known as Kiraman Katibin (Honorable Recorders), to document every action of a person.
📖Surah Al-Infitar 82:10-12
“But verily, over you (are appointed angels) to watch you, honorable in writing, they know whatever you do.”
📖Surah Qaf 50:17-18
“When the two receivers (recording angels) receive, seated on the right and on the left. He does not utter a word except that with him is an observer prepared (to record).”
- The angel on the right records good deeds, while the angel on the left records bad deeds.
- This system is not for Allah’s knowledge (since He knows everything instantly) but rather for establishing justice on the Day of Judgment.
2. The Presentation of Deeds to Allah
While Allah is already aware of everything, Hadiths mention that deeds are presented to Him at specific intervals:
📖Sahih Muslim 179 c
“The deeds of the day are presented to Him in the night, and the deeds of the night in the day.”
📖Sahih Muslim 2565
“Deeds are presented to Allah on Mondays and Thursdays, and He forgives every Muslim except those who have enmity between them.”
This does not mean that Allah needs these presentations to gain knowledge of the deeds. Instead, it serves the following purposes:
✅ A moment for mercy and forgiveness:
- The hadith states that Allah forgives believers (except those in conflict) when deeds are presented on Mondays and Thursdays.
- It is a divine system to encourage people to reconcile and seek Allah’s mercy.
✅ A reminder that actions are continuously monitored:
- Believers are encouraged to do good deeds, knowing they are regularly reviewed.
3. Understanding Time in Heaven vs. Earth
Some may wonder why deeds are presented on specific days like Monday and Thursday when time on Earth does not match time in the heavens. The answer lies in understanding the difference between heavenly time and earthly time:
📖 Surah Al-Hajj 22:47
“And indeed, a day with your Lord is like a thousand years of what you count.”
📖Surah Al-Ma’arij 70:4
“The angels and the Spirit ascend to Him in a Day, the measure of which is fifty thousand years.”
These verses show that time is relative and does not work the same way in the heavens as it does on Earth.
- The mention of Monday and Thursday is for human understanding rather than indicating that these specific days exist in the same way in the heavenly realm.
- Just as prayers have designated times on Earth (e.g., Fajr, Dhuhr), the system of presenting deeds follows an appointed schedule in human terms to help people comprehend divine processes.
4. The Purpose of Recording and Presenting Deeds
Even though Allah is All-Knowing, the system of recording and presenting deeds serves several purposes:
✅ Justice on the Day of Judgment – The recorded deeds will be used as proof against people.
📖Surah Al-Isra 17:13-14
“We have fastened every man’s deeds to his neck, and on the Day of Resurrection, We will bring forth a record which he will find spread open. (It will be said): Read your book. Sufficient is yourself against you this Day as an accountant.”
✅ Multiple Witnesses Against or in Favor of a Person –
- The recorded deeds will be presented.
- A person’s own body parts will testify about their actions.
📖Surah Yasin 36:65
“On that Day We shall seal their mouths, and their hands will speak to Us, and their legs will bear witness to what they used to earn.”
- Surah Fussilat 41:20-21
“When they reach it, their hearing, their sight, and their skins will testify against them for what they used to do. They will say to their skins, ‘Why have you testified against us?’ They will reply, ‘Allah has made us speak, as He makes everything speak…'” – This verses strongly indicates that Allah will give body parts the ability to speak literally, just as He can make anything speak.
5. Does This Mean Allah Needs Records to Know Our Deeds?
No, Allah does not need records to be aware of what people do. His knowledge is immediate and infinite. However, the system of recording and presenting deeds is a mechanism of justice, mercy, and accountability for humans.
📖Surah Al-Hadid 57:4
“And He is with you wherever you are. And Allah sees what you do.”
The recording of deeds is for humans, not for Allah. On the Day of Judgment, no one will be able to deny their actions because multiple sources (angelic records, their own bodies, and Allah’s knowledge) will testify against them.