for even were he to give that worship its full due⦗14⦘, it would still be nothing more than what is owed by right on account of his servitude, for a slave’s labor and service to his master are incumbent upon him by virtue of his being the master’s slave and property. Were he, therefore, to demand wages for that labor and service⦗1⦘, people would deem him foolish and rash⦗2⦘—all this although the master is, in fact, neither his true lord⦗3⦘ nor his real owner⦗4⦘⦗5⦘. Man, however, is in truth the slave of Allah⦗6⦘, His owned possession in the fullest sense⦗7⦘ from every angle⦗8⦘. Thus his work and service are due from him simply because he is His slave⦗9⦘; and when Allah rewards him for them⦗10⦘, that is sheer bounty, gracious favor⦗11⦘, and kindness toward him—something the servant has no right whatsoever to claim⦗12⦘.
From this⦗13⦘ one understands the meaning of the Prophet’s ﷺ words: “None of you will enter…"
(1) The base manuscript reads fa-idha (then when); the reading adopted is from manuscript B.
(2) In manuscript C, the passage from “For the servant’s work...” through “...and inept” reads as follows: “If a servant were to demand wages from his master, people would consider him a fool.”
(3) The base manuscript includes the additional word hadha (this).
(4) The word huwa (he) is omitted from manuscript C.
(5) The phrase wa-la mamlukuhu (nor his slave) is omitted from manuscript C.
(6) Manuscript C reads bal huwa (rather, he is) in place of wa-huwa (and he is).
(7) The phrase wa-mamlukuhu ala al-haqiqah (and his slave in reality) is omitted from manuscript C.
(8) The base manuscript and manuscript B add: lillah subhanahu (to Allah, exalted is He).
(9) The phrase fa-amaluhu wa-khidmatuhu mustahaqq alayhi bi-hukmi kawnhi abdahu (his work and service are incumbent upon him by virtue of his being His servant) is omitted from manuscript C.
(10) The base manuscript reads anaba ilayhi (turned to Him in repentance); the reading adopted is from manuscript B. Manuscript C reads athabahu alayha (rewarded him for it).
(11) The phrase wa-minnah (and a favor) is omitted from manuscript C.
(12) The phrase ilayhi la yastahiqquhu al-abd alayhi (from Him, which the servant has no right to claim from Him) is omitted from manuscript C.
(13) Omitted from the base manuscript; supplied from manuscripts B and C.