The Balance

"The weighing on that day (of Resurrection) will be the true (weighing)." [Soorah al-A'raf (7): 8]

"We shall set up balances of justice on the Day of Resurrection." [Soorah al-Anbiya (21): 47] 

The weighing of deeds on the Day of Judgment will take place with a scale with two pans, on one pan will be placed the good deeds and the evil deeds on the other. 

From the apparent meaning of the texts, we understand that actions will be weighed. "So whosoever does good equal to the weight of an atom shall see it. Whosoever does evil equal to the weight of an atom shall see it." [Soorah az-Zalzalah (99): 7-8] 

The Messenger of Allah said, "Two words that are beloved to Allah, are light on the tongue but heavy on the scale, 

‘SubhanAllahi wa-biHamdihi SubhanAllahil-Adheem.' [Saheeh al- Bukharee, Chapter The Virtue of Praising Allah] pg.35

So, this scale will be setup for weighing the deeds of creation.

Question: How will the deeds be weighted since they are attributes and actions of the doers? 

Reply to this question is the previously mentioned principle, “We are obliged to accept and submit and there is no need to ask how or why.” 

However the scholars have said in reply to this question that the actions will have bodies that will be placed in the pans. Actions will either be heavy or light. The scholars gave the instance of what is authentically known from the hadeeth reported by Imam Muslim from Abu Sa'eed that the Messenger of Allah said, “Death will be brought like horned ram and will be made to stand between Paradise and Hell.” It will be said, “O people of Paradise, do you know what this is?” 

They will raise their heads, look and say, “Yes, this is death.”

It will be said, “O people of Hell, do you know what this is?” 

They will raise their heads, look and say, “Yes, this is death.” 

Then the command will be given for death to be slaughtered. Then it will be said, “O people of Paradise, it is eternal, there is no death. O people of Hell, it is eternal, there is no death...” 

We all know that death is an attribute but Allah will give it a shape of itself and similarly the actions (will also be given a body).

Question:Is there one scale or many?

Reply: The scholars are divided into two groups with regards to this issue because there are texts which mention one scale for each person and there are texts which mention one scale for all, like 

"We shall set up balances of justice..." [Soorah al-Anbiya (21): 47] 

"So as for those whose scale (of good deeds) will be heavy.” [Soorah al-A'raf (7): 8] 

and in the saying of Allah's Messenger , "heavy on the scale." [Saheeh al-Bukharee] 

Some of the scholars say that the scale is one but it is a plural form considering that which will be weighed in it or considering the plurality of nations - one scale in which will be weighed the actions of Prophet Muhammad’s nation and in another will be weighed the actions of Prophet Moosa's nation and the other for the actions of Prophet Eesa's nation. 

Those scholars who are of the opinion that the scale is of different types say that Allah will set a separate balance for every nation or (He will set different balances) for obligatory action and (a different balance for) recommended action. 

Allah knows best but what appears is that the scale is one but it is (mentioned) in plural form considering that which will be weighed in it.