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:

Salamo Alaykom

I had a question regarding the use of the scale in judgement day. I am aware that I should be focusing on doing good deeds because in the end they are what get us into heaven inshallah.

However I have always been confused as to the use of the scale in judgement day. I understand that in the end we are to pay for our bad deeds by going to hell, as a result of this I can not see a use for this "scale". I would like to know what is the result if our good deeds out way our sins or visa versa. So if our good deeds out way our sins, does that mean we don`t pay for our sins any more?

Jazak Allah Khair 

 

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Answer:

 

Good deeds wipe evil deeds

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.

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter Surah Anbiyaa Verse 47:

We shall set up the Scales of Justice for the Day of Judgment so that not a soul will be dealt with unjustly in the least.  And if there be (no more than) the weight of a mustard seed We will bring it (to account): and enough are We to take account.

 

On the Day of Judgment the Lord Most High will set up the Scales of Justice, whereby every single good deed and every evil deed (for which one has not sought sincere forgiveness)  which one has done will be assigned a weight. 

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 101 Surah Al-Qariah Verses 6-11:

6        Then he whose balance (of good deeds) will be (found) heavy

7        Will be in a life of good pleasure and satisfaction.

8        But he whose balance (of good deeds) will be (found) light

9        Will have his home in a (bottomless) pit.

10      And what will explain to thee what this is?

11      (It is) a Fire blazing fiercely!

 

After all of one’s deeds (good and evil) are weighed, he whose balance of good deeds is found heavier will be successful; and he whose balance of evil deeds are found heavier will be condemned to the Fire of Hell.

 

And only to put things in perspective, the (good) deed which will be assigned the absolute largest weight on that Tumultuous Day will be to ‘Emaan’ or faith; and the (evil) deed which will be assigned the absolute largest weight will be ‘shirk’ (polytheism), ‘kufr’ (disbelief) and ‘nifaaq’ (hypocrisy). 

 

If The Lord Most High deems that one amongst His slaves died in the state of ‘emaan’ or faith, it is safe to assume that the weight assigned to the element of ‘emaan’ will outweigh all of ones evil deeds on those Noble Scales of Justice! 

 

And if the Lord Most High deems that one died in the state of ‘shirk’, or ‘kufr’, or hypocrisy, then such is the weight assigned to these most heinous of sins that it would easily outweigh all the good deeds one might have accumulated in one’s life!!!

 

Your Question: ….I understand that in the end we are to pay for our bad deeds by going to hell, as a result of this I can not see a use for this "scale".

Respected brother, if any man is ever called to account to pay for each and every one of his innumerable evil deeds……rest assured not even one amongst the children of Adam would be able to enter Paradise!!!

 

Allah Subhanah is Most Gracious Most Merciful towards His believing slaves, and from His unlimited and vastness of Mercy, He forgives a multitude of the (minor) evil deeds of His believing slaves.  And the sins which Allah Subhanah has already forgiven will never be placed in the Scales of Justice on that Tumultuous Day of Judgment!

 

Secondly, when one seeks sincere repentance after one has transgressed the bounds of Allah and commissioned a sin (major or minor), Allah Subhanah has promised in His Gloirous Quran that He will accept the repentance of such repentant believers….thus again, those sins for which one has made sincere repentance in their lifetime will not be placed in the Scales of Justice!

 

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 39 Surah Zumur verses 53-54:

(O Prophet) say: “O My servants who have wronged their own souls….Do not despair of Allah’s Mercy!  Surely,  Allah forgives all sins.   He indeed is the All Forgiving,  All Merciful.   Return to your Lord and submit to Him before the scourge overtakes you;  for then you may get no help from anywhere.”

 

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 3 Surah Ale Imraan verse 135-136:

Allah likes such good people very much, who,  if ever they commit a base deed or wrong their own soul by the commission of a sin,  remember Allah instantly,  and ask for forgiveness from Him for their shortcomings.  For who,  but Allah,  can forgive sins?   (And Allah loves those) who do not knowingly persist in the wrongs they did.   These will be rewarded with forgiveness from Allah,  and with Gardens beneath which canals flow,  and they will reside therein forever!   How excellent is the reward of those who do good deeds!

 

And third, every good deed one does, or every misfortune, illness, anxiety, grief, or hurt which afflicts a believer, the Lord Most Gracious wipes out some amongst the (minor) evil deeds in the Book of Records with Him…..

 

Abu Hurairah reports that Allah's Messenger (saws) said: "For every misfortune, illness, anxiety, grief, or hurt that afflicts a muslim -even the hurt caused by the pricking of a thorn - Allah removes some of his sins."

Related by Bukhari.

 

If after even such magnitude and vastness of Mercy of the Lord Most Merciful one approaches one’s Scale of Justice on that Tumultuous Day of Judgment whereby one still finds some un-forgiven evil deeds in one’s scale, it is entirely upto the Lord Most Gracious whether to forgive them or take them to account…..

 

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 8.545         Narrated by Aisha

Allah's Messenger (saws) said, "None will be called to account on the Day of Resurrection, but will be ruined!" I (Aisha (r.a.)) asked "O Allah's Messenger (saws)! Hasn't Allah said: 'Then as for him who will be given his record in his right hand, he surely will receive an easy reckoning?'   (84:7-8)”  Allah's Messenger (saws) replied: "That (Verse) means only the presentation of the accounts, but anybody whose account (record) is questioned on the Day of Resurrection, will surely be punished."

 

If Allah forbid, one is called to account for one’s evil deeds on the Day of Judgment by the Majestic Lord of the Worlds, it would be safe to assume that that person is definitely ruined and far from the Mercy of the Lord Most Merciful!!!

 

Your Question: …..So if our good deeds out way our sins, does that mean we don`t pay for our sins any more?

If at the end of the reckoning one’s balance of good deeds is heavier than one’s evil deeds, it would be safe to assume that the Lord Most Gracious Most Merciful will envelope such fortunate people in His unending Grace and Mercy and forgive them all their sins.   

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 101 Surah Al-Qariah Verses 6-11:

6        Then he whose balance (of good deeds) will be (found) heavy

7        Will be in a life of good pleasure and satisfaction.

8        But he whose balance (of good deeds) will be (found) light

9        Will have his home in a (bottomless) pit.

10      And what will explain to thee what this is?

11      (It is) a Fire blazing fiercely!

 

But if at the end of the reckoning, one’s balance of evil deeds is more than their good deeds, no amount of ransom or bargaining will avail them in the Presence of their Lord Most High, and the fire of Hell will be their eternal abode.

 

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