‘No, my Lord.’

He will be told, ‘You will suffer no injustice today.’ Then a card bearing the affirmation of Allah’s oneness will be brought. It will be placed in one pan of the balance and the records in the other. The records will rise, and the card will weigh heavily.”

This is because of the truthfulness, sincerity, purity, and sound intention accompanying this declaration. For although words and acts of worship may be identical in outward form, they differ enormously according to the state of the heart.

A similar example is the account of the prostitute who gave a dog water to drink, for which Allah forgave her. This was because of the sound intention and mercy present in her heart at that moment. Likewise, the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said:

“A servant may utter words pleasing to Allah, never imagining how far-reaching they will be, and Allah records His pleasure with him on their account until the Day of Resurrection. And a servant may utter words displeasing to Allah, never imagining how far-reaching they will be, and Allah records His displeasure with him on their account until the Day of Resurrection.”

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This makes it clear that the hadiths distinguishing between someone who intends an action and someone who performs it, and similar reports, concern only intentions falling short of firm resolve, which must necessarily be accompanied by action.

Thus, in the two Sahīh collections, Abū Rajāʾ al-ʿUtāridī narrates from Ibn ʿAbbās, from the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), who related from his Lord, Blessed and Exalted, that He said: