Question

Is there any mention in Hadith that a person will be rewarded 490 million rewards for deeds carried out while in the path of Allah?

Answer

This reward is deduced from two separate Hadiths:

1) Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Whomsoever spends in the path of Allah, while remaining in his house, will be rewarded for every Dirham he spends seven hundred fold. Whoever physically participates in the path of Allah and spends in its cause will be rewarded for every Dirham the equivalent of seven hundred thousand Dirhams. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) then recited the Verse: ‘Allah gives manifold increase to whom He wishes. Allah is All Embracing All Knowing’ (Surah Al Baqarah, Verse: 261).”

(Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith: 2761. Also see here)

2) Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “The [reward of] Salah, fasting and Dhikr in the path of Allah will be multiplied seven hundred times more than spending in the path of Allah.”

(Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith: 2490. See here)

From the first Hadith we understand that the reward of one who spends while physically participating in the path of Allah is multiplied seven hundred thousand fold and from the second Hadith, we understand that the reward for Salah, fasting and remembrance of Allah in the path of Allah is seven hundred times more rewarding than spending.

Therefore, some ‘Ulama have deduced that the reward for Salah, fasting and Dhikr in the path of Allah will be 490 million (700 000 x 700 = 490 000 000).

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

Answered by: Mawlana Suhail Motala

Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar