he fell ill in Mecca and the Prophet visited him: “You will never spend anything seeking Allah’s Countenance without being raised in rank and standing thereby—even the morsel you lift to your wife’s mouth.”

Muʿādh ibn Jabal said to Abū Mūsā:

“I seek reward for my sleep just as I seek reward for my standing in prayer.”

A report states: “A scholar’s sleep is glorification of Allah.”

If, however, a person’s fundamental aim is to worship other than Allah, good things are not lawful for him, for Allah has made them lawful for His believing servants. Indeed, the disbelievers, those who commit crimes and sins, and those who indulge their desires will be called to account on the Day of Resurrection for the blessings they enjoyed without remembering Him or using them to worship Him. They will be told:

“You exhausted your good things in your worldly life and enjoyed them. So today you will be recompensed with the punishment of humiliation because you were arrogant upon the earth without right and because you were defiantly disobedient.”

And Allah Most High says:

“Then you will surely be asked that Day about the blessings.”

That is, about giving thanks for them. The disbeliever did not give thanks for the blessings Allah bestowed upon him, so He will punish him for that. Allah has made these things lawful only for the believers and commanded them to give thanks for them, as He Most High says:

“O you who believe, eat of the good things We have provided for you and be grateful to Allah.”

In Sahīh Muslim, it is reported that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

“Allah is indeed pleased with a servant who eats a meal and praises Him for it, or takes a drink and praises Him for it.”

In Sunan Ibn Mājah and elsewhere, it is reported:

“One who eats and gives thanks holds the same standing as one who fasts and is patient.”

Likewise, He said to the messengers:

“O messengers, eat of the good things and do righteous deeds.”

And He Most High says:

“Grazing livestock have been made lawful for you, except what is recited to you, but hunting is not lawful while you are