123, 124. “It is not according to your wishes or the wishes of the People of the Book. Whoever commits evil will be recompensed for it and will find no protector or helper besides Allah. But whoever does righteous deeds, whether male or female, while being a believer—such people will enter Paradise and will not be wronged even by a speck on a date stone.”
That is, the matter, salvation, and purification are “not according to your wishes or the wishes of the People of the Book.” Wishes are mere thoughts unaccompanied by action, coupled with an empty claim which, if countered by an equivalent claim, would be no different from it. This applies to every matter—so how much more so to the matter of faith and everlasting felicity!
Allah has informed us of the wishes of the People of the Book, for they said: “None will enter Paradise unless he is a Jew or a Christian. Those are their wishes.” This applies with even greater reason to others who claim no adherence to any Book or messenger.
In His perfect justice and impartiality, Allah also included those who claim adherence to Islam. Mere affiliation with any religion is of no benefit unless a person produces proof that his claim is true, for deeds either confirm a claim or belie it. Hence the Almighty says: “Whoever commits evil will be recompensed for it.” This encompasses everyone who acts, since evil includes any sin whatsoever (1), whether minor or major. It also encompasses every recompense, whether small or great, worldly or in the Hereafter.
People occupy varying degrees in this regard, known only to Allah: some have little evil and others much. If a person’s deeds are entirely evil—and this can only be true of a disbeliever—then, should he die without repenting, he will be recompensed with eternal residence in the painful punishment.
As for one whose conduct is righteous and who remains upright in most of his circumstances, with only an occasional minor sin, whatever anxiety, grief, harm, or [some] (2) pain afflicts his body, heart, loved ones, property, or the like expiates his sins. Such afflictions are among the ways in which he is recompensed for his deeds; Allah has ordained them out of kindness toward His servants. Between these two conditions lie many degrees.
This general recompense for evil deeds applies specifically to those who do not repent. One who repents from a sin is like one who has no sin, as the revealed texts indicate.
His words, “and will find no protector or helper besides Allah,” dispel the possible misconception that someone who deserves recompense for his deeds might have a protecting ally, helper, or intercessor who could avert what he deserves. The Almighty declares that this is not so: he has no protecting ally to secure what he seeks and no helper to avert what he fears, apart from his Lord and Sovereign.
“But whoever does righteous deeds” encompasses every deed of the heart and body. It also includes everyone who acts—human or jinn, young or old, male or female. Hence He says: “whether male or female, while being a believer.” Faith is a condition for every deed: without faith, deeds are neither righteous nor accepted, earn no reward, and avert no punishment.
Deeds without faith are like the branches of a tree whose roots have been severed, or like a building erected upon a wave. Faith is the root, foundation, and basis upon which everything is built. This qualification must be borne in mind whenever deeds are mentioned without qualification, for they are always subject to it.
“Such people”—those who combine faith with righteous deeds—“will enter Paradise,” ⦗206⦘ which contains all that souls desire and eyes delight in, “and will not be wronged even by a speck on a date stone.” That is, none of the good they have done, whether little or much, will be diminished. Rather, they will find it complete, amply repaid, and multiplied many times over.