They argued: “A person who commits a major sin is not among the God-fearing, so Allah accepts no deed from him. He therefore has no good deeds, and the greatest good deed is faith. Thus, he has no faith and deserves to remain in the Fire forever.”

The Murji’ah answered them by saying that “the God-fearing” means those who avoid disbelief. They replied: “The term ‘the God-fearing’ in the Quran includes those who deserve reward, as in the Most High’s words:

‘Indeed, the God-fearing will be amid gardens and rivers, in a place of honor before a Sovereign, Perfect in Ability.’

“Furthermore, when Adam’s two sons each offered a sacrifice, the one whose offering was rejected was not a disbeliever at that time; he only became a disbeliever afterward. Had he been a disbeliever, he would not have made an offering. Moreover, the early generations always feared what this verse implied. Had it meant merely those who avoid disbelief, they would not have feared it. Also, using the term ‘the God-fearing’ to mean anyone who is not a disbeliever has no basis in the language of the Lawgiver, so it cannot be interpreted that way.”

The correct answer is that it means those who fear Allah in the particular deed they perform. As al-Fudayl ibn ‘Iyād said concerning the Most High’s words:

“That He may test you as to which of you is best in deeds.”

He said: “The most sincere and most correct.” He was asked: “Abū ‘Alī, what does ‘most sincere and most correct’ mean?” He replied: “If a deed is sincere but not correct, it will not be accepted; and if it is correct but not sincere, it will not be accepted. It must be both sincere and correct. Sincerity means that it is done for Allah, and correctness means that it accords with the Sunnah.”

Thus, whoever acts for other than Allah—as those who show off do—will not have that deed accepted. As Allah, Mighty and Majestic, says in an authentic hadith:

“I am utterly free of any need for partners. Whoever performs a deed in which he associates another with Me, I disavow it, and it belongs entirely to the one he associated with Me.”

The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, also said in an authentic hadith:

“Allah does not accept prayer without purification, nor charity from misappropriated property.”

And he said: “Allah does not accept the prayer of