2 — Dāwūd ibn Muhammad narrated to us that he heard Abū Abd al-Nabājī say:
“Five qualities bring a deed to perfection: faith based on knowledge of Allah, recognition of the truth, sincerity to Allah in one’s deeds, acting in accordance with the sunnah, and consuming what is lawful. If any one of these is lacking, the deed will not be raised up. For if you know Allah but do not recognize the truth, you will not benefit; if you recognize the truth but do not know Allah, you will not benefit; if you know Allah and recognize the truth but are not sincere in your deeds, you will not benefit; if you know Allah, recognize the truth, and are sincere in your deeds, but do not act in accordance with the sunnah, you will not benefit; and if the first four are complete but your food is not lawfully acquired, you will not benefit.”