have any good deeds (1), because they were not among the righteous. Allah Most High says:
‘Allah accepts only from the righteous.’
[Surah al-Mā’idah: 27]
He also says:
‘Do not nullify your charitable deeds with reminders of your generosity and hurtful words.’
[Surah al-Baqarah: 264]
And He says:
‘Do not raise your voices above the voice of the Prophet, nor speak loudly to him as you speak loudly to one another, lest your deeds come to nothing without your realizing it.’
[Surah al-Hujurāt: 2]
And He says:
‘That is because they pursued what angers Allah and detested what pleases Him, so He rendered their deeds void.’
[Surah Muhammad: 28]
These and other texts indicate that past deeds may be nullified by sins, and that a deed is accepted only when accompanied by piety. The promise applies only to a believer, and these people are not believers (2), as shown by His words:
‘The believers are only those whose hearts tremble when Allah is mentioned.’
[Surah al-Anfāl: 2]
And His words:
‘The believers are only those who believe in Allah and His Messenger, then entertain no doubt, and strive with their wealth and their lives in the cause of Allah. It is they who are truthful.’
[Surah al-Hujurāt: 15]
And His words (3):
‘Is one who is a believer like one who is defiantly disobedient? They are not equal.’
[Surah al-Sajdah: 18]
A defiantly disobedient person is not a believer and is therefore not included in the promise. This is also shown by what is authentically established from the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—that he said:
‘The adulterer does not commit adultery while he is a believer; one does not drink wine while he is a believer; and the thief does not steal while he is a believer.’ (4)
And by his saying:
‘Whoever cheats us is not one of us, and whoever takes up arms against us is not one of us.’ (5)
And other such texts.”