254 — Abū Bakr Abd Allah ibn Muhammad ibn Abd al-Hamīd al-Wāsitī narrated to us, saying: al-Hasan ibn Muhammad al-Zafarānī narrated to us, saying: Abd al-Wahhāb ibn Atā narrated to us, saying: Abū Ubayda al-Nājī narrated to us that he heard al-Hasan say:

“During the time of the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—some people said, ‘We truly love our Lord.’ Allah Most High then revealed concerning this: ‘Say, “If you love Allah, follow me; Allah will love you and forgive your sins.”’ [Āl Imrān: 31]

“He thus made following His Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—the mark of love for Him and gave the lie to anyone who acted contrary to it. He then made every profession subject to the evidence of deeds: some deeds confirm it, while others give it the lie. When a person makes a good profession and performs ⦗634⦘ a good deed, Allah raises his profession by means of his deed. But when he makes a good profession and performs an evil deed, Allah rejects that profession on account of the deed. This is stated in His Book, exalted is He: ‘To Him ascends the good word, and righteous action raises it.’ [Fātir: 10]”