by means of this striving pure and clear of the stains of sin.

Second: Once he has cast off the pollution of wrongdoing, he will inevitably adorn himself with praiseworthy character traits—foremost among them obedience to Allah, and every action that beautifies, refines, and draws him near to his Lord.

Third: By waging this campaign against his own ego—forcing it to abandon vices and embrace virtues—he has occupied his time with reforming himself and has thus been spared the blame of seeking out other people’s faults.

2. Through this upright conduct and his journey to Allah along such a noble course, he becomes entitled to the reward of Ṭūbā, which is either:
   – a tree in Paradise under whose shade a mounted rider could travel for one hundred years without reaching the end of it, or
   – a lofty station in Paradise. Allah alone grants success.