One of the calamities that may befall a servant is that he imagines the sins he is committing to be no sin at all and therefore persists in them—Allah’s protection is sought. Allah the Exalted says: “Say: ‘Shall We inform you of those who are the greatest losers in respect of their deeds? They are those whose striving in the life of this world went astray while they thought they were doing good’” (al-Kahf, 103–104). Many people thus never abandon a sin because it has been made attractive to them—Allah’s refuge is sought—so they grow accustomed to it and find it hard to rescue themselves from it. Yet when a person has taqwā of Allah, Mighty and Majestic, Allah makes it easy for him to give up his sins until He forgives him; indeed, Allah may pardon him precisely on account of that piety, so that his very taqwā becomes an expiation for his misdeeds. This is what happened with the people of Badr, may Allah be pleased with them, for Allah looked upon the warriors of Badr and said, “Do as you wish, for I have forgiven you.” Any sins that later issued from them were forgiven because of the tremendous reward they had earned in that battle.

His statement, “And Allah is the possessor of tremendous bounty” (al-Anfāl, 29), means that He owns a bounty so magnificent that nothing equals or approaches it. Since Allah is described by this attribute, seek that bounty from Him by fearing Him and turning back to Him. Allah knows best. 69_

As for the hadiths, the first is narrated by Abū Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him): It was said, “Messenger of Allah, who is the most honorable of people?” He replied, “The one among them who is most God-fearing.” They said, “That is not what we mean.” He said, “Then Joseph, the prophet of Allah, son of a prophet of Allah, son of a prophet of Allah, son of the Close Friend of Allah.” They said, “That is not what we mean.” He said, “So you are asking me about the lineages of the Arabs? The best of them in the pre-Islamic era…”