the hadith of Abū Sa‘īd:
“Whoever is pleased with Allah as his Lord, Islam as his religion, and Muhammad as his Prophet is assured Paradise.” Abū Sa‘īd marvelled at this, and the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “And there is another deed by which Allah raises His servant one hundred degrees in Paradise, the distance between every two degrees being like the distance between heaven and earth.” He asked: “What is it, O Messenger of Allah?” He replied: “Striving in Allah’s cause.”
This authentic hadith makes clear that the one who strives is favoured by one hundred degrees over someone who remains behind without a disability and has been promised the finest reward. It refutes those who say that the promise of the finest reward and the mention of superiority by a degree relate exclusively to those with disabilities. That view contradicts the Quran and Sunnah.
It may also be said that “a degree” is in the accusative as a specification, as in His words, “greater in rank”; that is, their rank surpasses that of the others. Similarly, one may say: “This person is favoured over that person in station and standing.” Moreover, “a degree” may refer to degrees in general—that is, station and abode—rather than a single numerical degree.
In His words:
“And Allah has favoured those who strive over those who remain behind with a tremendous reward,”
the word “degrees” is in the accusative, governed by “has favoured,” because favouring entails granting something additional to the one favoured. The meaning, then, is that He has granted them more than the others: a tremendous reward—degrees from Him, forgiveness, and mercy.
Thus, the disagreement concerns someone firmly resolved to act who has done all that is within his power: is he equal in reward or sin to the person who actually performs the act, or not? As for his deserving reward or sin, there is no disagreement about that.
The Prophet’s words:
“When two Muslims confront each other with their swords,”
entail that each is eager to kill the other and does all that is within his power. Thus, both deserve the Fire.