Then know that whoever supplicates in obedience to Allah’s law and as an act of worship is seeking his own welfare and his rightful share of good. He seeks what benefits him in this world and the Hereafter, unlike someone who does so out of natural inclination, seeking only worldly benefit. As Allah Most High says:

“Among people are those who say, ‘Our Lord, give us in this world,’ but they will have no share in the Hereafter. And among them are those who say, ‘Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.’ They will have a share of what they have earned. And Allah is swift in reckoning.” (Surah al-Baqarah, 200–202)

Thus, whoever seeks Paradise and seeks refuge from the Fire is seeking good in the Hereafter, and is therefore praiseworthy.

Another way to clarify this matter is to refute these people’s position by showing its implication: a servant would neither carry out any command nor refrain from anything forbidden. He would neither pray, fast, give charity, perform Hajj, strive in jihad, nor do any good whatsoever, since the benefit of such deeds is to obtain reward and ward off punishment. If he seeks neither to obtain the reward, which is Paradise, nor to ward off the punishment, which is the Fire, then he would neither carry out any command nor refrain from anything forbidden. He would say, “I am content with whatever He does to me, even if