and the thief, the person whose neighbour is not safe from his harm, the person who does not wish for his brother the good he wishes for himself, and others besides them. Yet that is not the case. Allah has linked the promise of Paradise only to the designation of faith, not to the designation of Islam, although He has made Islam obligatory and declared that it is the religion He has approved and that He accepts no other religion. Nevertheless, He has not said that Paradise has been prepared for the Muslims, nor that Allah has promised the Muslims Paradise. Rather, He has mentioned this only in connection with faith, as in His words:

“Allah has promised the believing men and believing women Gardens beneath which rivers flow.”

Thus, He links this promise to faith mentioned either without qualification or qualified by righteous deeds, as in His words:

“Indeed, those who believe and do righteous deeds—they are the best of creation.”

“Their reward with their Lord is Gardens of perpetual residence beneath which rivers flow.”

And His words:

“Give glad tidings to those who believe and do righteous deeds that they will have Gardens beneath which rivers flow. Whenever they are provided with fruit from them, they will say, ‘This is what we were provided with before.’”

And His words:

“Indeed, those who believe and do righteous deeds, establish prayer and give zakah will have their reward with their Lord. No fear will be upon them, nor will they grieve.”

And His words:

“As for those who believe and do righteous deeds, He will give them their rewards in full and grant them more from His bounty.”

And His words:

“As for those who believe in Allah and hold fast to Him, He will admit them into mercy and bounty from Him and guide them to Himself on a straight path.”

And His words:

“Those who believe and do righteous deeds—We will admit them into Gardens beneath which rivers flow, where they will abide forever. They will have purified spouses there, and We will admit them into deep shade.”

And in the other verse:

“Who is more truthful in speech than Allah?”

And He says:

“As for those who believe and do righteous deeds, He will give them their rewards in full. Allah does not love the wrongdoers.”

And He says:

“Allah has promised those who believe and do righteous deeds forgiveness and a great reward.”

And He says:

“So whoever believes and mends his ways