[The Balancing (of Deeds)]

Question: It has been authentically transmitted from some of our Imāms (Peace be upon them) that they held the view of balancing (al-muwāzanah) between good deeds and evil deeds, using as proof His saying, exalted is He: “So whoever does an atom’s weight of good will see it, and whoever does an atom’s weight of evil will see it.” [az-Zalzalah:7–8] And it has been authentically transmitted from the rest of the People of the House (Peace be upon them) that they held the view of nullification (al-iḥbāṭ). Thus their statements in this issue have appeared to conflict. So is this issue among the foundational issues (uṣūl) in which the truth lies with one (side) and the one who opposes is mistaken and sinful? Or is it among the speculative issues in which every mujtahid is correct?