one who does so out of natural inclination, for he seeks only his welfare in this world. As Allah Most High says:

“Among people are those who say, ‘Our Lord, give us in this world,’ but they will have no share in the Hereafter.”

“And among them are those who say, ‘Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.’”

“Those will have a share of what they have earned, and Allah is swift in reckoning.”

Thus, whoever seeks Paradise and seeks refuge from the Fire is seeking the good of the Hereafter and is therefore praiseworthy.

Another way to clarify this matter is to refute these people’s position by pointing out its implication: the servant would neither carry out any command nor refrain from anything forbidden. He would neither pray, fast, give charity, perform pilgrimage, undertake jihad, nor perform any act that brings him nearer to Allah, since the benefit of these acts lies in attaining reward and averting punishment. If he seeks neither to attain the reward, which is Paradise, nor to avert the punishment, which is the Fire, then he would neither carry out any command nor refrain from anything forbidden. He would say, “I am content with whatever He does to me, even if I fall into disbelief, wickedness, and disobedience.”

Indeed, he would go so far as to say, “I will disbelieve, act wickedly, and disobey so that He punishes me, and I will be content with His punishment, thereby attaining the station of contentment with His decree.”

Such words come from someone who is among the most ignorant, foolish, misguided, and unbelieving of all creatures. As for his ignorance and foolishness, this is because such contentment is impossible and unattainable, since it entails combining two contradictories.