food of the finest quality worth three thousand dinars, he would still need clothing, dwellings, and means of warding off harm, such as weapons, medicines, and other things that food alone cannot provide.

It should also be understood that the merit of recitation, remembrance of Allah, supplication, prayer, and other acts may vary according to a person’s condition. Recitation with reflection is better than recitation without reflection, and prayer with humility and an attentive heart is better than prayer without them. A report states:

“Two men may stand together in the same row, yet the difference between their prayers is as great as the distance between heaven and earth.”

One of the shaykhs used to recite “Say: He is Allah, One” for healing, and this brought great blessing. Others would recite it for healing without obtaining that result, so he would say: “Not everyone’s recitation of ‘Say: He is Allah, One’ benefits everyone.”

Once this is understood, one person’s glorification of Allah may be better than another’s recitation, and one person’s recitation of certain surahs may be better than another’s recitation of “Say: He is Allah, One” or other surahs. A single person’s condition also varies. He may perform an act of lesser merit in a perfect manner and thereby attain greater merit than through his other, more excellent deeds.

Allah forgave a prostitute for giving a dog water, as established in the two Sahīh collections. This was because of the acts of the heart and other factors that accompanied her deed. A man may spend many times as much yet not be forgiven, because the factors that purify a deed are absent. For Allah accepts only from those who are mindful of Him. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, also said