The multiplying of deeds by tenfold

The nations of the earlier prophets and messengers – peace upon them all – would live incredibly long lives, some even over a thousand years. This meant that they had more time to do good deeds and earn their place in paradise. We, the chosen nation of the blessed Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم, have comparatively shorter lives, but this does not mean we have less of a chance to enter heaven.

One of the blessings of being part of the blessed Prophet’s صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم ummah – nation – is that each time we do something good, we receive ten good deeds into our account. About this, the blessed Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم narrates that Allah عزوجل said:

إِذَا أَرَادَ عَبْدِي أَنْ يَعْمَلَ سَيِّئَةً فَلاَ تَكْتُبُوهَا عَلَيْهِ حَتَّى يَعْمَلَهَا، فَإِنْ عَمِلَهَا فَاكْتُبُوهَا بِمِثْلِهَا وَإِنْ تَرَكَهَا مِنْ أَجْلِي فَاكْتُبُوهَا لَهُ حَسَنَةً وَإِذَا أَرَادَ أَنْ يَعْمَلَ حَسَنَةً فَلَمْ يَعْمَلْهَا فَاكْتُبُوهَا لَهُ حَسَنَةً، فَإِنْ عَمِلَهَا فَاكْتُبُوهَا لَهُ بِعَشْرِ أَمْثَالِهَا إِلَى سَبْعِمِائَةٍ

If my servant intends a bad deed, do not record it unless he does it. If he does it, record it as one. If he leaves it for my sake, record for him one good deed. If he intends to do a good deed and he does not do it, record for him one good deed. If he does it, record for him ten good deeds like it, up to seven-hundred times as much. — Bukhari #7062

Simply put, every good thing we do earns us a good deed and the more we earn the closer we get to heaven. But remember, entry into paradise does not only depend on how much we have prayed, how many fasts we have kept, or how much charity we have given, it also depends on what we were like as people and how we treated others - we should strive for excellence in character and heart, as we do in religiosity. We can spend hours upon hours with our heads in sujūd – prostration – but if we treat our parents, family, friends, and even strangers, horribly, there is an overwhelming possibility that we will be denied paradise.

No doubt we have shorter lives but when we put in genuine effort to please Allah عزوجل, fulfil His عزوجل rights and the rights of His عزوجل creation over us, we will be handsomely rewarded.

And Allah عزوجل and His Messenger صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم know best.