أَوْلِيَاءُ اللَّهِ

Hadith 37: Allah has recorded good and bad deeds From Ibn 'Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with them both), from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, in what he reports from his Lord: إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَتَبَ الْحَسَنَاتِ وَالسَّيِّئَاتِ ثُمَّ بَيَّنَ ذَلِكَ "Allah has recorded good deeds and bad deeds, then He explained it: whoever intends a good deed and does not do it, Allah records it with Him as one complete good deed; if he intends it and does it, Allah records it with Him as ten good deeds up to seven hundred times, and far more. Whoever intends a bad deed and does not do it, Allah records it with Him as one complete good deed; if he intends it and does it, Allah records it as a single bad deed." Source: Bukhari 6491 and Muslim 131.

The commentary • Allah's generosity: good is multiplied, evil is counted only once. Ibn Rajab shows that the multiplication varies according to sincerity, the quality of the act and the need for it. • The bad deed intended then abandoned: An-Nawawi and Ibn Rajab specify that it becomes a good deed when one leaves it for Allah; whoever abandons it because he could not do it, while still wanting it, does not have that reward, and a firm resolve of the heart can be counted [À VÉRIFIER : présentation]. • The link with hadith 1: a sincere intention already has value.

In daily life • Have many plans for good: even when prevented, they are recorded. • When a bad idea comes, leave it for Allah: it turns into good.

Hadith 38: the allies of Allah From Abu Hurayra (may Allah be pleased with him): the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Allah said: مَنْ عَادَى لِي وَلِيًّا فَقَدْ آذَنْتُهُ بِالْحَرْبِ Whoever shows hostility to an ally of Mine, I declare war on him. My servant does not draw near to Me with anything I love more than what I have made obligatory on him. And My servant continues to draw near to Me with voluntary deeds until I love him; and when I love him, I am his hearing with which he hears, his sight with which he sees, his hand with which he grasps and his foot with which he walks. If he asks Me, I give him, and if he seeks refuge with Me, I protect him." وَمَا يَزَالُ عَبْدِي يَتَقَرَّبُ إِلَيَّ بِالنَّوَافِلِ حَتَّى أُحِبَّهُ Source: Bukhari 6502.

The commentary • Who are the allies (awliyaa') of Allah? The Qur'an answers: "those who believe and fear Allah" (10:63, below). It is not a title reserved for a few, nor linked to wonders: every pious believer has a share of it. • Two levels, according to Ibn Rajab: obligations first, which are the most beloved to Allah; then voluntary deeds, by which one earns His love. • "I am his hearing…": scholars, including An-Nawawi and Ibn Rajab, explain that Allah guides his senses and limbs, so that he only uses them in what Allah loves; there is no fusion here between the Creator and the creature [À VÉRIFIER : formulation doctrinale]. • Hostility towards pious people is a very grave sin.

In daily life • Check your obligations first, then add a regular voluntary deed: the sunna prayers, a fast, a reading of the Qur'an. • Respect pious people and scholars; do not insult them, even in disagreement.

Hadith 39: error, forgetfulness and coercion From Ibn 'Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with them both): the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَجَاوَزَ لِي عَنْ أُمَّتِي الْخَطَأَ وَالنِّسْيَانَ وَمَا اسْتُكْرِهُوا عَلَيْهِ "Allah has pardoned, for my sake, my community for error, forgetfulness and what they are coerced into." Source: Ibn Maaja and Al-Bayhaqi [À VÉRIFIER : numéros]. An-Nawawi grades it "ḥasan"; Ibn Rajab reports that Imam Aḥmad and others criticised its chain, but that its meaning is confirmed by the Qur'an [À VÉRIFIER : degré].

The commentary • The Qur'an confirms the meaning: "Our Lord, do not take us to task if we forget or make a mistake" (2:286, below); Muslim reports that Allah answered this supplication [À VÉRIFIER : numéro]. For coercion, see 16:106. • What is lifted is the sin. Ibn Rajab and the jurists specify that some consequences remain: whoever forgets a prayer prays it as soon as he remembers; whoever damages property by mistake pays for it; whoever eats forgetfully while fasting continues his fast. • Real coercion (a serious threat) excuses, within limits: it never permits killing an innocent [À VÉRIFIER : présentation].

In daily life • Do not torment yourself over a fault committed through forgetfulness or error: repair what must be repaired, and carry on. • Excuse others in the same way: a mistake is not a betrayal.

The text: Surah Yuunus (10), verses 62 to 63 أَلَا إِنَّ أَوْلِيَاءَ اللَّهِ لَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ ﴿٦٢﴾ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَكَانُوا يَتَّقُونَ ﴿٦٣﴾

The text: Surah Al-Baqara (2), verse 286 لَا يُكَلِّفُ اللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا ۚ لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتْ وَعَلَيْهَا مَا اكْتَسَبَتْ ۗ رَبَّنَا لَا تُؤَاخِذْنَا إِنْ نَسِينَا أَوْ أَخْطَأْنَا ۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تَحْمِلْ عَلَيْنَا إِصْرًا كَمَا حَمَلْتَهُ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِنَا ۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تُحَمِّلْنَا مَا لَا طَاقَةَ لَنَا بِهِ ۖ وَاعْفُ عَنَّا وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا وَارْحَمْنَا ۚ أَنْتَ مَوْلَانَا فَانْصُرْنَا عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ ﴿٢٨٦﴾

Meaning: "Indeed, the allies of Allah shall have no fear, nor shall they grieve: those who believe and fear Allah." (10:62-63, linked to hadith 38); "Allah does not burden any soul beyond its capacity. It will have what it has earned, and against it what it has committed. Our Lord, do not take us to task if we forget or make a mistake. Our Lord, do not lay upon us a burden like that You laid on those before us. Our Lord, do not burden us with what we cannot bear. Pardon us, forgive us and have mercy on us. You are our Protector: give us victory over the disbelieving people." (2:286, linked to hadith 39).

Arabic text: Tanzil Quran Text (Simple, version 1.0.2), © 2008-2010 Tanzil.net, Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 licence, reproduced without any change (http://tanzil.net). Each verse is on its own line, followed by its number; the basmala, which the Tanzil file places at the start of the first verse, is written on its own line.

Understanding the lesson

Explanation These three hadiths show Allah's mercy in the way He counts our deeds. The good intended is recorded, the good done is multiplied, the evil left for Allah becomes a good deed, the evil done is counted only once (37). The way to His love is open to all: obligations, then voluntary deeds (38). And what escapes our will (error, forgetfulness, coercion) is not a sin (39). This mercy is not an invitation to laxity: it gives the energy to act. Whoever knows that every plan for good counts does more of it; whoever knows that forgetfulness is forgiven does not shut himself up in anxiety. Hadith 38 also corrects a false idea: being an ally of Allah is not a matter of wonders, but of faith, piety and constancy.

Lessons to draw from it • Multiply intentions of good; leave bad ideas for Allah. • Start with the obligations, then add a regular voluntary deed. • Respect pious people, without believing that sainthood is reserved for a few. • Repair the consequences of an error or forgetfulness, without excessive guilt. • Excuse the mistakes of others as Allah excuses ours.

Key points to remember • Hadith 37 (Bukhari 6491, Muslim 131): good intended = one good deed; good done = from ten to seven hundred times and more. • Hadith 38 (Bukhari 6502): مَنْ عَادَى لِي وَلِيًّا; obligations, then nawaafil. • The allies of Allah: those who believe and fear Allah (10:63). • Hadith 39: error, forgetfulness and coercion forgiven; verse 2:286.

The main message Allah counts your deeds generously: do the obligations, add voluntary deeds and plan much good, without tormenting yourself over what escapes your will.