rather, the most they can achieve—if the servant devotes his utmost sincerity and effort to them and performs them in the most perfect manner—is to serve as thanks to Him for some of His blessings. Were He to demand His full due, the servant would still owe Him thanks for that blessing which he had not adequately thanked Him for. Thus, if He punished the inhabitants of His heavens and His earth, He would punish them without wronging them; and if He showed them mercy, His mercy would be better for them than their deeds, as is authentically reported from the Prophet ﷺ.
This is why the Prophet ﷺ denied that deeds secure admission to Paradise, saying: “None of you will enter Paradise by his deeds.” Another wording states: “None of you will enter Paradise by his deeds.” Yet another states: “None of you will be saved by his deeds.” They asked, “Not even you, O Messenger of Allah?” He replied, “Not even me, unless Allah envelops me in mercy and bounty from Him.”
Yet Allah, glorified be He, affirmed admission to Paradise through deeds, as in His words:
16:32 “Enter Paradise for what you used to do.”
There is no contradiction between the two, since the negation and affirmation do not concern the same meaning. What is denied is entitlement to Paradise merely through deeds, and the notion that deeds constitute its price or payment. This refutes the Qadariyyah, who claim that bestowing reward as an outright gift entails repeated reminders of the favor.
This group is among the most ignorant of Allah and the most thickly veiled from Him. They well deserve to be the Magians of this community. Sufficient proof of their ignorance of Allah is their failure to recognize that the inhabitants of His heavens and His earth are all beholden to His favor, and that rejoicing in the favor of their true Lord and Master is part of the fullness of their joy, happiness, bliss, and delight. Indeed, it is this favor that makes their lives pleasant. Those highest in rank before Him and nearest to Him are those who best recognize this favor, most fully acknowledge it, remember it, give thanks for it, and love Him for it. Does anyone ever pass through any state except within His favor?
49:17 “They regard their acceptance of Islam as a favor to you. Say, ‘Do not regard your Islam as a favor to me. Rather, Allah has bestowed a favor upon you by guiding you to faith, if you are truthful.’”
Being beholden to another creature is a deficiency only because that creature is one’s equal: when he reminds someone of his favor, he places himself above him, and the recipient sees himself as beneath him. Even this, however, does not apply to every creature. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ has bestowed favor upon his community, and his Companions used to say: “Allah and His Messenger have shown us greater favor.” Nor is there any deficiency in a parent’s favor toward his child, or any shame for the child in being beholden for it; and likewise a master