such verses as:

“Whoever rejects faith—his deeds have become worthless.”

Hence jurists describe contracts and acts of worship as either valid or invalid. An invalid act is one that fails to achieve its purpose or produce its intended effect, and thus yields none of the benefit sought from it. This includes His words:

“As for those who disbelieve, their deeds are like a mirage in a desert which a thirsty person mistakes for water”—to the end of the verse.

And His words:

“The example of what they spend in this worldly life is that of a wind containing bitter frost which strikes the crops of people who have wronged themselves and destroys them.”

And His words:

“And We will turn to whatever deeds they did and make them scattered dust.”

For the same reason, beliefs and statements are described as false: they neither correspond to reality nor are true, just as those deeds are not beneficial.

Beliefs and statements may also be described as false when they do not correspond to reality, if they contain no benefit, as in the words of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him:

“O Allah, I seek refuge in You from knowledge that does not benefit.”

Thus, truth, insofar as it concerns the human being, comes down to whatever benefits him in knowledge, speech, action, and state. Allah Most High says:

“He sends down water from the sky, and valleys flow according to their capacity”—up to His words—“Thus does Allah illustrate truth and falsehood. As for the foam, it passes away as waste, while what benefits people remains in the earth. Thus does Allah set forth examples.”

And He, Most High, says:

“Those who disbelieve and turn others away from the path of Allah—He has rendered their deeds worthless.”

“But those who believe, do righteous deeds, and believe in what has been sent down to Muhammad”—up to His words—“Thus does Allah set forth their likenesses for mankind.”