those who believe and do righteous deeds as those who spread corruption on earth, or treats the God-fearing like the wicked, is among the most ignorant of people and the most deeply steeped in disbelief. Rather, the worship, supplications, knowledge and deeds that Allah has commanded are among the greatest causes of the acts of worship linked to them. Likewise, the disbelief, wickedness and disobedience He has forbidden are among the greatest causes of the misery attached to them.
Nevertheless, the best of creation said:
“None of you will enter Paradise by virtue of his deeds.”
They asked, “Not even you, O Messenger of Allah?”
He replied, “Not even me, unless Allah envelops me in His mercy and bounty.”
And when he told them, “There is not one of you whose place in Paradise and whose place in Hell is not already known,” they asked, “O Messenger of Allah, should we not then rely on what has been written and abandon deeds?”
He replied, “No. Act, for everyone will be enabled to do that for which he was created. Whoever is among the people of bliss will be enabled to perform the deeds of the people of bliss, and whoever is among the people of misery will be enabled to perform the deeds of the people of misery.”
Likewise, supplication and reliance upon Allah are among the greatest causes of the outcomes for which Allah has made them causes. Whoever says, “Whatever has been decreed for me will come to me, whether I supplicate or not, and whether I rely upon Allah or not,” is like someone who says, “Whatever bliss or misery has been allotted to me will come to me, whether I believe or not, and whether I obey or disobey.” It is well known that this is misguidance and disbelief, although the former statement is not as misguided as the latter: the connection between attaining one’s aims and supplication and reliance upon Allah is not like the connection between bliss in the Hereafter and faith. Yet there is no doubt that whatever Allah has made supplication a cause of is comparable to that for which action has been made