can avert punishment through repentance, he would not be forbidden to commit the act.’ Yet it is well known that a servant must do what is commanded and refrain from what is forbidden, because failing to do so is grounds for blame and punishment—even though that punishment may be averted through these means despite his failure. Likewise, he must protect himself against deadly poisons, even though, after taking them, he might counteract their harm with medicines.

Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise, Most Merciful. He commands them to do what benefits them and forbids them from doing what corrupts them. Then, if they expose themselves to causes of destruction, He does not leave them to despair of His mercy. Rather, He provides means by which they can avert the harm. Hence the saying:

‘The truly discerning scholar is one who neither makes people despair of Allah’s mercy nor emboldens them to disobey Him.’

For this reason, the servant is commanded to repent whenever he sins. Someone once said to his shaykh, ‘I commit sins.’
He replied, ‘Repent.’
‘Then I return to them.’
‘Repent.’
‘Then I return to them.’
‘Repent.’
‘For how long?’
‘Until you grieve Satan.’

In the Musnad, ʿAlī reports that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

‘Allah loves the servant who is often tempted and repeatedly repents.’

Furthermore, when someone sleeps through a prayer or forgets it, performing it upon waking or remembering serves as its expiation. This discharges his obligation, removes blame and punishment, and earns him praise and reward. As for the voluntary acts he performs, we do not know how much would be needed for their reward to take the place of that prayer. Even if this were known, he might be unable to perform them alongside all his other obligations. Moreover, if we suppose that he were commanded to perform something that would take its place, that act would become obligatory and would therefore no longer be voluntary.

Voluntary acts of worship were prescribed to draw one still nearer to Allah, as Allah Most High says in the authentic hadith:

‘My servant draws near to Me through nothing like fulfilling what I have made obligatory upon him. My servant continues to draw near to Me through voluntary acts of worship until I love him.’

The hadith continues.