This shows that hope on its own is not enough; action is indispensable. To hope in Allah while doing nothing is to disable the very means He has set. Commendable hope is the hope that is accompanied by righteous deeds, whereas blameworthy hope is that which is not coupled with righteous deeds. A deed is considered righteous only when two conditions are met:
- Sincerity to Allah alone.
- Conformity to the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him).
Therefore, a work is not righteous unless it is done purely for the sake of Allah, free of any form of polytheism, and it is correct—performed in line with the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah, without innovation. When these two conditions are fulfilled, the deed is sound; if either condition is missing, the deed is corrupt and will not benefit the one who performs it.
Any act tainted with polytheism is rejected, and likewise any act contaminated by innovation is rejected. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Whoever performs a deed that is not in accordance with our affair, it is rejected.” Thus, this verse affirms that hope is an act of worship of Allah, and that it is valid only when accompanied by righteous action.