Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Pls i would like you to discuss in details if i have the total of my self or otherwise, if not why should i be purnish for my misdeed, because there somethings i wanted to do, but i could not achieve it and there somethings too i don`t want to do but i fall victim of it, so why should i be purnish for it wheni don`t the total control of my self.

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Answer:

Reward for intentions

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Dear and beloved brother, although it may be true that a human being may not have total control on the conditions, or situations, or the results and consequences of the deeds one does (or does not do)…..without an iota of a doubt, every human being has absolute and total control over their intentions to do (or not do) a deed….and in the Just and Supreme Court of the Lord Creator, each individual will be rewarded or punished according to one’s intention behind every deed he does (or does not do).

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 1.1 Narrated by Umar bin Al Khattab

I heard Allah's Messenger (saws) saying, "The reward of deeds depends upon the intentions and every person will get the reward according to what he has intended.”

In the merciful system of rewards prescribed by the Lord Most Merciful, if one amongst Allah’s slaves merely intends to do a good deed, Allah Subhanah records and rewards the slave for one good deed; and if the slave actually fulfills that intentions and does the good deed, the Lord in His Supreme and Infinite Mercy, records ten good deeds in the slave’s favor!

If the slave intends to do an evil deed, Allah Subhanah does not record the evil intention until the slave actually strives to put his evil intention into practice. But it the slave of Allah intends to do an evil deed, but abstains from it only for the fear of Allah, the Lord Most Merciful records that as a good deed in his book of records!

Sahih Muslim Hadith 235 Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said that Allah Subhanah Says: ‘When it occurs to My bondsman that he should do a good deed but he actually does not do it, I record one good deed for him, but if he puts it into practice, I make an entry of ten good acts in his favour. When it occurs to him to do evil, but he does not commit it, I forgive that. But if he commits it, I record one evil deed against his name.’ The Messenger of Allah (saws) said the Angels said: ‘That bondsman of yours intends to commit evil, though His Lord is more Vigilant than he!’ Upon this He (the Lord) said: ‘Watch him; if he commits (evil), write it against his name, but if he refrains from doing it, write one good deed for him, for he desisted from doing it for My sake.’ The Messenger of Allah (saws) said: ‘He who amongst you is of good faith, all his good acts are multiplied from ten to seven hundred times (and are recorded in his name) and all the evils that he commits are recorded as such (i.e. without increase) until he meets Allah.’

Thus my beloved brother, although it may be true that one may not have total control on the situations and conditions of every deed….without an iota of a doubt, every individual has total and absolute control over his each and every intention….and it is this intention which precedes every deed of every individual which will determine whether the deed be recorded as a virtue or a sin.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan