Likewise, He says:

“Establish prayer at the two ends of the day and in the early hours of the night. Indeed, good deeds do away with misdeeds.”

This describes the removal of harm. Then He says:

“That is a reminder for those who remember.”

This describes a benefit. The Quran and Sunnah contain many descriptions of the virtues of deeds, their rewards, benefits, and advantages that follow this pattern. For example, He says concerning jihad:

“He will forgive you your sins and admit you to gardens beneath which rivers flow,”

and continues as far as:

“And another blessing that you love: help from Allah and an imminent conquest.”

He thus explains how it removes the harm of sins and brings the benefit of mercy through admission to Paradise. This pertains to the Hereafter. In this world, there are help and conquest, which likewise involve averting harm and securing benefit. There are many similar examples.

As for evil deeds, an example is His saying:

“Satan only seeks to sow enmity and hatred among you through intoxicants and gambling, and to turn you away from the remembrance of Allah and from prayer.”

Here He explains the two reasons: first, the harm caused by outward enmity and inward hatred; and second, the obstruction of the benefit that is the foundation of happiness—namely, the remembrance of Allah and prayer. The result is to turn people away from what is commanded, whether as an obligation or a recommendation. This is also the rationale they gave for disapproving of forms of gambling, such as chess and similar games.