“Whoever attacks you, respond in equal measure to their attack. Fear Allah, and know that Allah is with those who fear Him.”

The criterion is to praise, among these qualities, what Allah and His Messenger have praised. For it is Allah Most High whose praise confers honor and whose censure brings disgrace—not poets, orators, or anyone else. Thus, when a man from Banū Tamīm said to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, “My praise confers honor, and my censure brings disgrace,” he replied, “That is Allah.”

Allah, glorified is He, has praised courage and generosity in His cause, as in the authentic report from Abū Mūsā, who said:

“The Messenger of Allah was asked, ‘A man fights to display courage, another fights out of partisan zeal, and another fights to be seen by others. Which of these is in Allah’s cause?’ He replied, ‘Whoever fights so that Allah’s word is supreme is fighting in Allah’s cause.’”

He, glorified is He, has also said:

“Fight them until there is no more fitnah (religious strife) and religion is entirely for Allah.”

This is the purpose for which creation was brought into being, as Allah Most High says:

“I did not create jinn and mankind except to worship Me.”

Whatever serves the purpose for which creation was brought into being is therefore praiseworthy before Allah, and it is what endures for the person who does it. These are righteous deeds.

People thus fall into four categories: those who act for Allah with courage and generosity—these are the believers who deserve Paradise; and those who act for other than Allah with courage and generosity—