and the weak among you are strong in my eyes until I secure their rights for them. Obey me as long as I obey Allah; if I disobey Allah, you owe me no obedience.”

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Since all good deeds must meet two requirements—that they be done for Allah’s sake and conform to the Sharia—these requirements apply to words and actions, to good speech and righteous deeds, and to matters of knowledge and worship. Thus, it is authentically reported from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace:

“The first three with whom Hell will be set ablaze are: a man who acquired knowledge and taught it, recited the Quran and taught others to recite it, so that people would say, ‘He is a scholar and a reciter’; a man who fought and strove in battle so that people would say, ‘He is brave and bold’; and a man who gave charity and bestowed gifts so that people would say, ‘He is generous and open-handed.’”

These three, who seek to show off and gain a reputation, stand in contrast to the three groups who rank after the prophets: the steadfastly truthful, the martyrs, and the righteous. Whoever learns the knowledge with which Allah sent His messengers and teaches it for Allah’s sake is among the steadfastly truthful. Whoever fights so that Allah’s word may be supreme and is killed is a martyr. Whoever gives charity seeking Allah’s pleasure is among the righteous.

This is why someone who neglects his duties concerning his wealth asks to return at the time of death. As Ibn ‘Abbās said:

“Whoever is given wealth but neither performs Hajj with it nor pays zakat asks to return at the time of death.”

He then recited the words of the Most High:

“And spend from what We have provided for you before there comes to any one of you