is clear.”

The significance of this hadith is that religion consists of doing what Allah has commanded and refraining from what He has forbidden. The hadith “The lawful is clear” explains what He has forbidden.

What Allah has commanded is of two kinds: outward deeds, comprising obligatory and recommended acts; and inward deeds, consisting of sincere devotion to Allah alone.

Thus, his statement, “Whoever performs an act…” rules out drawing near to Allah through anything other than what Allah has commanded, whether as an obligation or a recommendation. His statement, “Actions are judged only by intentions…” explains inward deeds and makes clear that drawing near to Allah requires sincere devotion to Him alone.

As al-Fudayl said concerning Allah’s words,

“that He may test you as to which of you is best in deeds,”

“This means the most sincere and the most correct.” He explained: “If a deed is sincere but not correct, it will not be accepted; and if it is correct but not sincere, it will not be accepted. It must be both sincere and correct. To be sincere is to be done for Allah, and to be correct is to conform to the Sunnah.”

This is indicated by Allah’s words:

“So whoever hopes to meet his Lord, let him do righteous deeds and associate no one in the worship of his Lord.”

Righteous deeds are those that Allah and His Messenger have commanded, whether as obligations or recommendations. Associating no one in the worship of one’s Lord means devoting one’s religion sincerely to Allah alone.

Likewise, Allah says:

“Yes, whoever submits himself to Allah and does good will have his reward with his Lord,”

to the end of the verse. And He says:

“And who is better in religion than one who submits himself