Al-Bukhari (4945) records—on the authority of ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib—that the Prophet ﷺ said: “Act, for everyone will find the way eased for that for which he was created.” Likewise, the ḥadīth under discussion includes his words: “Whoever bathes, then comes to the Friday prayer and performs ṣalāh….”

These are deeds that are truly ascribed to the servant; he carries them out by his own power and choice. The phrase “he prayed as much as was decreed for him” refers to Allah’s determination and will with respect to His servant’s action. Thus the ḥadīth affirms the servant’s deed while linking it to Allah’s decree, governance, and will.

Second, from a linguistic standpoint, an act is literally attributed to its doer; one resorts to figurative attribution only when the literal attribution is impossible, and here it is both possible and correct.

Third, sound reason dictates that no source can be assigned to an act except the one from whom the act actually issues.

Fourth, our senses—foremost among them direct observation—show that deeds emerge from created beings, are credited to them, and are acknowledged by them together with the responsibility they entail.

Fifth, every rational person possesses self-evident knowledge that whatever proceeds from a human being proceeds from him by his own choice, will, and volition. This necessary knowledge cannot be overturned, nor can any alternative be coherently imagined. Allah is the Guide to the straight path.