Are rewards and sins multiplied during the Sacred Months and in the sacred precincts of Makkah and Madinah?
Answer:
All perfect praise be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds. May His peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.
Thul-Qi‘dah, Thul-Hijjaah, Muharram and Rajab are the Sacred Months of Allah and enjoy a great status in His sight. Allah the Almighty says {What means}: " The number of months in the sight of God is twelve (in a year)- so ordained by Him the day He created the heavens and the earth; of them four are sacred: that is the straight usage. So wrong not yourselves therein, and fight the Pagans all together as they fight you all together. But know that God is with those who restrain themselves." {At-Tawbah, 36}.
Narrated Abu Bakra: The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said. "(The division of time has turned to its original form which was current when Allah created the Heavens and the Earths. The year is of twelve months, out of which four months are sacred: Three are in succession Dhul-Qa' da, Dhul-Hijja and Muharram, and (the fourth is) Rajab of (the tribe of) Mudar which comes between Jumadi-ath-Thaniyah and Sha ban." {Related by Bukhari}.
As for the multiplication of rewards and punishments during the Sacred Months and in the precincts of Makkah and Madinah, some scholars stated that sins are multiplied in these sacred times and at these sacred places. Amongst these scholars are Ibn Katheer, Al-Qhortubi, Al-Bahwati, as transmitted from Ibn Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them).
It is stated in the Hanbali book {Kash-shaf al-Khinaa`, v.2:330}: "All sins must be avoided, but during Ramadan and at sacred places they are of more gravity. The evidence on this is that Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said, "If one does not eschew lies and false conduct, Allah has no need that he should abstain from his food and his drink."
[Al-Bukhari]. This hadith is intended for restraining and warning, and just as good deeds are multiplied in sacred times and at sacred places so are bad deeds.
Al-Qurtubi (May Allah be pleased with him) said, "Do not wrong yourselves during these months by committing sins. This is because when Allah The Almighty glorifies something from one angle, it becomes inviolable from one aspect, but if He glorifies something from two angles or more, then this matter would then be inviolable from multiple angles and its punishment (for its violation) would be multiplied. This also applies to good deeds as anyone who obeys Allah during a sacred month and when he is in a sacred land would get more reward than one who obeyed Him in a non-sacred month in a sacred land. Also, whoever obeys Allah during a non-sacred month in the sacred land would get more reward than one who obeyed Him in a non-sacred month in a non-sacred land. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {O wives of the Prophet, whoever of you should commit a clear immorality – for her the punishment would be doubled two fold, and ever is that, for Allah, easy.} [Quran 33:30]" {Tafseer Al-Qurtubi, V.8:134}.
Moreover, it is stated in {Tafseer Ibn Khatheer, v.4:148}: "Do not wrong yourselves during these months by committing sins. Sins are considered of more gravity during the Sacred Months and this is why the blood-money is multiplied during them according to the school of Ash-Shaafi‘i and many other scholars. Blood-money is also multiplied for the one who kills another in the sacred precincts of Makkah or the one who kills someone in the state of Ihraam (ritual consecration)."
However, some scholars, such as Ibn Rajab (a Hanbali scholar), stated that sins aren`t multiplied during the Sacred months and at the sacred places but they are considered of more gravity.
It is stated in {Jami` al-Ulum WalHikam, V.2:317} by Ibn Rajab: "An evil deed is recorded as one evil deed, not multiplied. This is because Allah the Almighty says {what means}: " He that doeth good shall have ten times as much to his credit: He that doeth evil shall only be recompensed according to his evil: no wrong shall be done unto (any of) them." {Al-`An`am, 160}. "God records it for him as one evil deed.” This indicates than evil deeds aren`t multiplied during the Sacred months and at the sacred places but they are considered of more gravity. Allah also said {what means}: "The number of months in the sight of God is twelve (in a year)- so ordained by Him the day He created the heavens and the earth; of them four are sacred: that is the straight usage. So wrong not yourselves therein, and fight the Pagans all together as they fight you all together. But know that God is with those who restrain themselves." {At-Tawbah, 36}. Ali Ibn Abi Talhah stated that good deed and evil de eds during the sacred months are graver. Ibn Qutadah (May Allah have mercy on him) stated that oppression during the Sacred Months is graver than oppression at any other time. Oppression at any time is severe, but Allah The Almighty can make graver whatever He wants."
In conclusion, a Muslim must avoid sins at all times, even if they aren`t multiplied, and exert maximum effort in delivering acts of obedience since Allah promised to multiply the latter many times over. And Allah the Almighty knows best.