• Reward: For prayers in Haram and in the Prophet's Mosque
I have read a Hadith which states that prayer in the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah is equal to one thousand prayers elsewhere, with the exception of the Haram in Makkah. It is also stated that prayer in the Haram in Makkah is equal to one hundred prayers in the Prophet's Mosque. That makes it equivalent to a hundred thousand prayers anywhere else. Does this apply to the whole Haram area of Makkah? Are sins also punished at one hundred thousand times their punishment elsewhere?
The Hadith you have mentioned is authentic. It is true that the reward we receive for a single prayer in the Prophet's Mosque is equivalent to the reward of one thousand prayers elsewhere. Similarly, a prayer in the Haram in Makkah earns a reward equivalent to one hundred thousand prayers elsewhere. That is one aspect of Allah's grace and limitless bounty with which He favors His servants. Some scholars say that this high reward is applicable throughout the Haram area, but perhaps it is more correct to say that it applies to the Grand Mosque itself, i.e. the Haram. [This is] because the Hadith mentions "Al-Masjid al-Haraam" which refers to the mosque itself.
Perhaps it is important to add that this generous reward does not exempt the worshipper from offering his obligatory prayers at their times every single day of his life. Suppose a person stays in Makkah for a month and offers all his five daily prayers throughout the month in the Haram Mosque before returning home. He has earned the reward of prayers in one hundred thousand months. It may occur to him that he will not live for 8,000 years, so he need not offer any more prayers. This is a totally mistaken notion. If he deliberately omits to offer one obligatory prayer, he commits a sin.
Punishment for sins committed in the Haram area are not multiplied by the same figure. Allah states in the Qur'an that whoever is guilty of a bad deed will not incur any punishment more than which is equal to his bad deed. It is indeed a manifestation of the grace of Allah that we are rewarded generously for the good we do, but we earn no more punishment except what is equal to our misdeeds. Moreover, even these are forgiven when we repent having committed them.
• Reward: Hereafter for non-Muslims adhering to Islamic values
1. Some non-Muslims appear to appreciate Islamic values and principles. In practical life, they maintain good behavior and they are kind to others. They refrain from sinful and evil actions. Yet, they are not Muslims. The idea of converting to Islam does not appeal to them because of what it may entail within their social circle. Will such good people earn reward in the hereafter? Or, will their good deeds be of no avail?
2. If a non-Muslim leads a pious life, would he be rewarded by admission into heaven in the hereafter?
Of course there are good people among the followers of other religions. The Prophet has recognized this. When he was asked about the best people, he answered: "The best among them in pre-Islamic days are the best in Islam, provided they understand it properly." In the first major battle the Muslims fought against the unbelievers, the Prophet named a number of people in the enemy camp and ordered that their lives be spared. Muslim solders were under strict orders not to kill them even if they could, but rather they should take them prisoner. These were people who did not take part in active hostility against Islam. When we know good people among the followers of other religions, we should maintain good relations with them. You speak of some of them accepting the principles of Islam but are unable to become Muslims due to social pressures. This may be so, but we cannot condone such an attitude.
Ultimately, accepting Islam is setting one's relationship with Allah on the right footing. That takes priority over all other considerations. You ask what will happen to such people on the Day of Judgment. You have to remember that on that day Allah is the absolute sovereign.
He determines what happens to every single one of His creations. It is not our job to decide what will happen to any person, whether he is the best or the worst of people. It is Allah alone who determines that. However, since we know Islam, the word of truth and the message of Allah as given to mankind, through his last messenger, we do not deviate from it. We cannot condone the practice of these people giving too much weight to their social considerations. We say that the relationship with Allah is paramount. How Allah will treat them on the Day of Judgment is His own business, not ours.
2. Islam states clearly that good actions merit reward from Allah if they are result of believing in Him. Without faith, any good action is deprived of its value. You could say that faith, or indeed believing in Allah, is the soul of any good action. Without it, it remains lifeless. While there is no denying the fact that some non-believers may have good characters and may be keen to do good actions, they undermine their own standing in Allah's sight by their lack of faith. When the Prophet was asked which people were best, he answered: "The best among them in pre-Islamic days are the best in Islam, if they get to know their faith well." The Hadith speaks of good people among non-believers. It adds, however, that such a good person will be distinguished by his goodness if he becomes a Muslim, and he could distinguish himself still further if he understands Islam well. This is due to the fact that these additional qualities had the proper motivation to his good actions and enhance his good character.
• Reward: Questions of the type "Will God reward him?"
A man in our company asks one of the employees doing pilgrimage every year to buy a copy of the Qur’an and give it to someone in Makkah. The man is a Hindu. Will God reward him for his action?
I do not answer a question of the type; "will God accept this?" "Will God reward this man or punish that man?" I do not think the question is fair, when it is addressed to anyone. How can a human being respond to such a question? What we have is a criterion, which tells us that God accepts the deeds of human being when they are based on faith in Him. This is the basis of any judgment we need to make, but how can we be sure whether a person has faith in God or not? We can only be guided by appearances, and appearances are not always true.
Then why should we concern ourselves with such questions? We know that God will not waste the deeds of those who do well. He will reward every single action when it is intended to please Him. He is the Most Fair and the Most Generous. Thus every doer of good deeds will receive his fair reward and more. What this Hindu gentleman does is an apparently good action, but it is God who determines whether it is worthy of reward or not.