A series of moral, doctrinal, and social statements from the esteemed religious authority, Grand Ayatollah Shirazi, may his shadow remain (Words of Wisdom, episode number 6)
The Seed of Action
God Almighty says in the Holy Qur'an:
"So whoever does an atom's weight of good will see it, and whoever does an atom's weight of evil will see it." (Qur'an 99:7-8)
In Arabic grammar, a verbal noun that begins with the letter "mim" is called a "masdar mimiy" (مصدری میمی), such as "mithqāl" (مِثْقَال) in the aforementioned verse, which denotes weight or heaviness. This verse refers to the smallest unit of both good and evil deeds — the "atom" of action, and it implies that God does not overlook even the smallest act, whether good or bad. Every good deed will be rewarded, and every bad deed will result in punishment or reprimand.
The metaphor of an "atom" (ذَرَّة) used by God to describe even the smallest of actions is worthy of reflection. A "ذَرَّة" (atom) is something familiar to us, whether it is a tiny speck of dust, a small piece of food, or any other tiny substance. Even when we imagine the smallest possible unit, it can still be broken down further into even smaller particles with the aid of specialized instruments. A better analogy might be the light particles visible when light shines through a crack into darkness, forming a column of light filled with floating specks. These particles, which are invisible to the naked eye, have no significant volume, length, width, or weight, yet they exist as atoms.
Thus, God Almighty assures that every action, no matter how small — even the size of an invisible floating atom — will be judged and rewarded or punished accordingly.
The Effective Cause and the Real Cause
One well-known scholar of the Sunnah recounts an incident from his childhood. He had tied a string around the leg of a sparrow and played with it. Whenever the sparrow tried to fly away, he pulled on the string. The sparrow struggled, trying to escape, but was unable to. Eventually, the sparrow took refuge in a hole, and the scholar kept pulling the string. The sparrow, seemingly stuck, could not follow the string, and eventually, its leg was severed. The string, which had been tied to the sparrow's leg, remained in his hand.
The mother of the child, who witnessed this incident, was deeply upset and rebuked her son for causing harm to the innocent bird. She told him, "One day, you will face the consequences of your actions, and your leg will be cut off too."
Fifty years later, the scholar experienced an accident that led to the amputation of his own leg. He narrates that when people visited him and asked about the cause of the amputation, he explained that there was both an "effective cause" — the accident that caused his leg to be cut off — and a "real cause," which was rooted in the incident with the sparrow fifty years earlier. He recounted the story of the sparrow and his mother's words, acknowledging that this was the day when the consequence of his childhood action had arrived.
From this story, we learn several things. First, the reward or punishment for good or bad deeds is not limited to the framework of religious obligation, as the scholar performed this act as a child, yet its consequence manifested in his adulthood. Second, the return of one's actions — whether good or bad — is an inherent part of the natural order (takwīni), and it will inevitably come to pass. Finally, it is not necessary for a good or bad deed to be classified as "halal" (permissible) or "haram" (forbidden) for it to have consequences. A person may perform an action that is neither obligatory nor prohibited but still experiences the natural consequences of their behavior. The Qur'an, when extending the concept of evil to the minutiae of imperceptible atoms, teaches us how broad the domain of good and evil is.
The Return of Actions
It is clear that the effects of many of our deeds are reflected back to us in this world, but according to many verses and authentic narrations, the ultimate return of the consequences of human actions will occur in the Hereafter. God Almighty says:
"And indeed, the punishment of the Hereafter is far more severe and more lasting." (Qur'an 87:10)
The rewards and punishments of the Hereafter are much more intense and permanent than anything experienced in this world, and they are not comparable to the effects of deeds in this life. Therefore, it is natural that the consequences of many human actions will manifest both in this world and the next.
An important point in this verse is the word "yara" (يَرَهُ), which refers to seeing the results of one's actions. This "seeing" is not limited to physical sight; it encompasses a deeper, more comprehensive form of perception. Even someone who is physically blind will experience the consequences of their actions, for "seeing" here refers to the soul’s deeper awareness and understanding. For example, a person might hurt another’s feelings without realizing it, but the impact of that harm will eventually be felt by them in a different way — perhaps through a painful experience that mirrors their earlier actions.
I personally witnessed a situation where a son was indifferent to his mother's emotional needs. She was highly sensitive and anxious about her son’s well-being, but he paid little attention to her concerns. One day, he went on a trip, and despite the fact that his mother anxiously awaited a call from him, he neglected her. As a result, her worry and anxiety led to health problems. While the son may not have been intentionally cruel, the emotional pain he caused his mother eventually caught up with him. Years later, I saw the son facing difficulties and challenges in his life. The pain he caused his mother, though not directly intended, had a lasting impact on his life.
This illustrates the law of cause and effect that governs our actions. Even seemingly small and insignificant actions can have profound and far-reaching consequences. Our actions, whether good or bad, are not just acts of the moment — they resonate through time, affecting our lives in ways we may not immediately recognize.
Indeed, many narrations emphasize that acts of repentance, charity, prayer, maintaining family ties, and acts of kindness can prevent harm and ease the consequences of our deeds. The Qur'an assures us that God does not let even the smallest of our deeds go unanswered, and that every action, no matter how tiny, is accounted for by Him.
May God grant us the insight and awareness to always act with kindness and goodness, and protect us from harm. May He help us to consistently strive for goodness in all that we do, avoiding evil and harm in our thoughts, words, and deeds.
May God's peace and blessings be upon our Master and Prophet Muhammad and his pure family.
