and with his deeds; he will belittle his brother and may even deem it unlikely that Allah will show him mercy, saying, “This man is far removed from the mercy of Allah.” Such words wipe out his own deeds. This is exactly what is related in an authentic hadith: A man once said of another who was prodigal in sin, “By Allah, Allah will never forgive so-and-so.” Allah, exalted is He, responded: “Who is it that dares to swear by Me that I will not forgive so-and-so? I have forgiven him and have nullified your deeds.”

Reflect on this man: one sentence destroyed both his worldly life and his life to come. All his striving and labor perished because self-admiration, contempt for his brother, and his assumption that Allah’s mercy was beyond reach drove him to utter those words. That single statement ruined his life here and hereafter.

The upshot is that whoever enjoins what is right and forbids what is wrong must keep this principle before his eyes: his aim is not to vindicate himself or to take revenge on his brother. Rather, he should be like a skilled physician whose only concern is to cure the patient afflicted by sin—working to protect him from the harm of that wrongdoing. If the person has abandoned a duty, the admonisher treats him in a way that moves him to fulfill the obligation. When Allah knows that his intention is sincere, He places blessing in his efforts, guides through him whomever He wills among His servants, and the admonisher himself gains abundant good and becomes a source of immense benefit. Allah alone grants success.