Al-Mizaan – The Scale

Al-Qurtubi says, after the reckoning, the deeds will be weighed because weighing of deeds is for reward, so it needs to be after reckoning. Reckoning is to calculate the deeds. To give an illustration – say you have a big sack filled with a lot of things. Al-hisaab sorts out those things. Allah will question your deeds so that the good will be separated from the bad; the accepted will be separated from what is not accepted. The hisaab (reckoning) is to separate what you will be rewarded for and what you will be punished for. Therefore, al-mizaan comes after hisaab.

Allah says: “And We shall set up balances of justice on the Day of Resurrection, then none will be dealt with unjustly in anything. And if there be the weight of a mustard seed, We will bring it. And Sufficient are We as Reckoners.” (21:47)

In a hadith narrated by Ahmad, Abu Dardaa` says that the Prophet sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said, “There is nothing heavier than good character put in the scale of a believer on the Day of Resurrection.” [I found it in Abu Dawood, 41/4781] Never underestimate good behaviour! It is truth, kindness, fulfilling the rights of others.

The Prophet sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said, “(There are) two words which are dear to the Beneficent (Allah) and very light (easy) for the tongue (to say), but very heavy in weight in the balance. They are: Subhan Allah wa-bi hamdihi and Subhan Allah Al-‘Adheem.” [Bukhaari, 9/93/652]

In a hadith in Bukhaari, the Prophet sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said, “[...] As for the one for whom it [a horse] is a source of reward, he is the one who keeps his horse for the sake of Jihad in Allah’s Cause; he ties it with a long rope on a pasture or in a garden. So whatever its rope allows it to eat, will be regarded as good rewardable deeds (for its owner). And if it breaks off its rope and jumps over one or two hillocks, even its dung will be considered amongst his good deeds. And if it passes by a river and drinks water from it that will be considered as good deeds for his benefit) even if he has had no intention of watering it [...]” [Bukhaari, 4/56/839]

RasulAllah sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said, in a hadith by At-Tirmidhi, that on the day of judgment Allah will bring a man in front of all of creation. Allah will present to him 99 scrolls. Every scroll is as far as you can see, filled with bad deeds. Then Allah will tell him, “Are you denying anything in these scrolls?” The man will say, “No.” Allah will say, “Did the angels recording your deeds make any mistakes or oppress you?” He will say, “No.” Then Allah subhaana wa ta’aala will say, “Do you have any excuse? (For all of these sins you have done)?” The man will say, “No.” Then Allah subhaana wa ta’aala will say, “Yes, you do have something that could be credited to you. You have a hasanah with us and there will be no oppression on you today.” Then a card will be presented to him that says Ash hadu Allah ilaaha illallah, wa ash hadu Muhammad dan abdu ho ar-RasoolAllah. And Allah will tell him, “Go and witness the weighing of your deeds.” The 99 scrolls will be placed on one side and the card will placed on the other. When the card will be placed, the 99 scrolls will go flying up in the air, because nothing is heavier than the name of Allah. This is the value of the kalima.

RasulAllah sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said that whoever says the kalima with sincerity, Allah will reward them with Jannah. We ask Allah to make us of those who live according to la ilaaha il Allah.