factors that aggravate them. Likewise, good deeds may be accompanied by factors that enhance their worth or diminish it. Just as good deeds fall into categories of differing merit, yet a deed belonging to a lesser category may, in many circumstances, be better than one belonging to a superior category, so too it is with evil deeds.

Prayer is better than reciting the Quran, recitation is better than remembrance of Allah, and remembrance is better than supplication. Nevertheless, recitation, remembrance, and supplication after the dawn and afternoon prayers are better than deliberately choosing those times for voluntary prayer. Likewise, glorifying Allah while bowing and prostrating is better than reciting the Quran in those positions. Some people may benefit more from remembrance and supplication than from recitation, making these better for them.

The same applies to evil deeds. Although unlawful killing is graver than unlawful sexual intercourse, and unlawful sexual intercourse is graver than drinking wine, drinking may be accompanied by aggravating factors that make it more grievous than some of the harm caused by unlawful sexual intercourse.

Once it is understood that good and evil deeds differ in degree sometimes because of their categories, and sometimes because of other circumstances attending them, it becomes clear that one deed may outweigh another, and vice versa. A servant may perform a good deed with such intention, truthfulness, and sincerity that it outweighs many such deeds.

This is illustrated by the hadith of the man whose card, bearing the words “There is no god worthy of worship except Allah,” outweighed the scrolls containing his sins. Likewise, there is the hadith of the prostitute who gave a dog water using her leather sock, and Allah forgave her. The same principle applies to evil deeds. And Allah knows best.