righteous unless two conditions are met: 1) sincerity to Allah, and 2) conformity to the Messenger ﷺ.

Sincerity to Allah means that in performing the deed you seek neither the applause of people nor their notice; your sole aim is the Face of Allah and the reward of the Hereafter.

Conformity, on the other hand, is to follow the Messenger ﷺ so closely that you introduce nothing new into the religion. Any innovation—no matter how sincere the person may be—is rejected, for he ﷺ said: “Whoever performs a deed that is not in accordance with our affair, it is rejected.” Likewise, a devotional act that outwardly accords with the Sunnah yet is tainted by showing off is also rejected. In a Divine Saying Allah declares: “I am the One who has the least need of partners; whoever performs a deed in which he associates someone else with Me, I abandon him and his association.”

As for His words, “and counsel one another to the truth,” they mean that each believer enjoins the other to embrace the truth brought by the messengers. “And counsel one another to patience” refers to the patience the soul needs to perform obligations, refrain from prohibitions, and endure the painful decrees of Allah.

Imam al-Shafiʿi—may Allah have mercy on him—said: “Had Allah revealed to His servants no surah other than this one, it would have sufficed them, for it is both comprehensive and conclusive.”

We ask Allah, exalted be He, to make us among those who believe, work righteous deeds, counsel one another to the truth, and counsel one another to patience. Surely, He is All-Hearing, Ever-Near.