A: The evidence of Shari`ah (Islamic Law) indicates that good deeds are multiplied in honorable times such as Ramadan and the first ten days of Dhul­Hijjah and places like the Two Sacred Mosques. They are highly rewarded in Makkah and Madinah as it is reported in the authentic Hadith that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

This indicates that a prayer in Al­Masjid Al­Haram is one hundred thousand times better in reward than any Salah in any place, except Al­Masjid Al­Nabawy where the prayer is one hundred times better in reward when performed in The Prophet's Mosque. Other good deeds are also multiplied but nothing is narrated to specify their reward such as the case of prayer. On my part, I know no authentic evidence that indicates a specific amount of reward for the other good deeds such as fasting or Dhikr (remembrance of Allah) but there are general Hadiths that show that they are greatly rewarded.

There is a Hadith reading: "Whoever fasts Ramadan in Makkah, Allah writes it as a hundred thousand Ramadans", but it is weak according to scholars.

Thereupon, there is no doubt that carrying out good deeds in Al­Haram Al­Sharif in Makkah is greatly increased in reward but there is no determined amount here except in the case of prayer as illustrated previously.

As for misdeeds, the verifying scholars are of the opinion that sins are not doubled in number but in punishment. This is because Allah (glory be to Him) says:

They are not doubled in number whether in Ramadan, the Sacred Mosque or any other place; always a misdeed is counted as one misdeed. This is a bounty and favor from Allah (may He be Exalted and Glorified). Committing an evil deed in the Sacred Masjid of Makkah, Ramadan, or on the first ten days of Dhul­Hijjah is greater in punishment but not counted as more than one sin, and similarly committing a wrongdoing in Makkah is greater in punishment than committing it in Jeddah or Al­Ta'if, for example. A sin in Ramadan or Dhul­ Hijjah is graver and worse than that committed in Rajab or Sha`ban but it is the punishment that increases, not the number, as long as sins are concerned. On the other hand, good deeds are doubled in reward and number as well and this is a great bounty from Allah. The following Ayah (Qura'nic Verse) indicates the great punishment for wrongdoings in the Sacred House in Makkah and that committing a misdeed in Al­Haram is severe and grave. Allah (glory be to Him) says:

This shows that committing a sin in the Sacred Masjid of Makkah is very offensive and even having an inclination to bad doing is included in the threat mentioned above. Moreover, the Ayah states that to have an inclination to do wrong in Al­Haram entails a great punishment. Therefore, what about a person who also acts upon what they inclined to do while in the Sacred Masjid. This normally entails more punishment than just an inclination to sins. The Ayah at hand includes a great warning against committing sins in Al­Haram and it applies to every bad inclination whether in belief or any other thing. Allah (Exalted be He) says: and whoever inclines to evil actions therein or to do wrong (i.e. practise polytheism and leave Islâmic Monotheism) The word Ilhad, i.e., inclination to evil action, was mentioned as an indefinite noun, which means that it is equally applied to every act of evil action, because it is a form of Ihlad. Those who have inclinations to evil actions are eligible to the punishment mentioned above and if these inclinations contradict the Islamic creed, this is a great danger, for whoever has it may become a disbeliever due to this and as a result commits the greatest sin.

However, having inclinations to one of the evil actions such as consuming intoxicant beverages, Zina