1. Jannat al-Firdous (The Highest Paradise)
Allah Almighty has bestowed His friends with various and diverse blessings. Below we mention some divine rewards. Allah the Exalted says:
﴿وَمَن يَأْتِهِ مُؤْمِنًا قَدْ عَمِلَ الصَّالِحَاتِ فَأُولَٰئِكَ لَهُمُ الدَّرَجَاتُ الْعُلَىٰ . جَنَّاتُ عَدْنٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا ۚ وَذَٰلِكَ جَزَاءُ مَن تَزَكَّىٰ﴾
“And whoever comes as a believer and has done righteous deeds, for those will be the highest degrees [in position]: Gardens of perpetual residence beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever. That is the reward of one who purifies himself.”
At another place, Allah Almighty says:
﴿وَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِنَ الصَّالِحَاتِ مِن ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنثَىٰ وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَأُولَٰئِكَ يَدْخُلُونَ الْجَنَّةَ وَلَا يُظْلَمُونَ نَقِيرًا﴾
“And whoever is a believing man or believing woman and does righteous deeds – We will surely cause them to live a good life, and We will surely give them their reward [in the Hereafter] according to the best of what they used to do.”
Abdul Rahman bin Nasir Al-Sa’di, may Allah have mercy on him, writes in the commentary of these verses:
﴿وَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِنَ الصَّالِحَاتِ﴾
“And whoever does righteous deeds.” This includes all deeds of the heart and deeds of the body, and among those who perform deeds are jinn and humans, young and old, men and women. Therefore, it is said: ﴿مِنْ ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنْثَى وَهُوَ مُؤْمِن﴾ “whether male or female, as long as they are believers.” Faith is the foremost condition for the acceptance of all deeds. No deed can be good, accepted, rewarded, or save one from punishment unless the doer is a believer. Deeds without faith are like the branches of a tree whose root has been cut off, and like a building constructed on the waves of water. Faith is truly the essence, foundation, and principle upon which everything is based. This condition must be well understood: deeds that are mentioned absolutely are bound by the condition of faith. ﴿فَأُولَٰئِكَ﴾ “Then those people,” meaning those who combine both faith and righteous deeds, ﴿فَأُولَٰئِكَ يَدْخُلُونَ الْجَنَّةَ﴾ “will enter Paradise.”
2. The Promise of Great Reward and Good Recompense
Allah Almighty will reward His beloved servants on the Day of Judgment with great rewards and immense recompense. The command of Allah Almighty is:
﴿وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ ۙ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌ وَأَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ﴾
Allah Almighty promises that for those who believe and do righteous deeds, there is vast forgiveness and a great reward.”
Abdul Rahman bin Nasir Al-Sa’di, may Allah have mercy on him, writes in the interpretation of this verse:
﴿وَعَدَ اللهُ﴾ “Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, has promised.” That is, Allah Almighty, who does not break His promise, makes a promise to those who believe in Him, His messengers, and the Last Day ﴿وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ﴾ “and who do righteous deeds.” Those who adhere to obligatory and recommended acts. Allah Almighty promises them forgiveness, pardon from the punishment of their sins, and the granting of a great reward whose greatness is known only to Allah Almighty, as Allah Almighty has said:
﴿فَلَا تَعْلَمُ نَفْسٌ مَّا أُخْفِيَ لَهُم مِّن قُرَّةِ أَعْيُنٍ جَزَاءً بِمَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ﴾
“No soul knows what delight of the eyes is kept hidden for them as a reward for what they used to do.”
3. The Promise of Forgiveness
Allah has promised them forgiveness. The Almighty says:
﴿إِلَّا الَّذِينَ صَبَرُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ أُولَٰئِكَ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌ وَأَجْرٌ كَبِيرٌ﴾
“Except for those who are patient and do righteous deeds; for them is forgiveness and great reward.”
Abdul Rahman bin Nasir Al-Sa’di, may Allah have mercy on him, writes in the commentary of this verse:
It is human nature, except for the one whom Allah grants success and removes him from reprehensible traits and leads him towards good morals. These are the people who compel their souls to patience during trials and hardships and do not despair, and they also remain patient during times of happiness, so they do not indulge in pleasure, and they perform obligatory and recommended good deeds. So what is the result? ﴿أُولَٰئِكَ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌ﴾ “For them is the forgiveness of their sins.”
In another place, He says:
﴿لِّيَجْزِيَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ ۚ أُولَٰئِكَ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌ وَرِزْقٌ كَرِيمٌ﴾
“That He may reward the believers and doers of good deeds. Those are the ones for whom there is forgiveness and honorable provision.”
4. Allah does not waste the reward of His sincere friends (Awliya)
Allah the Exalted says:
﴿إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ إِنَّا لَا نُضِيعُ أَجْرَ مَنْ أَحْسَنَ عَمَلًا ﴿۳۰﴾ أُولَٰئِكَ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتُ عَدْنٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهِمُ الْأَنْهَارُ يُحَلَّوْنَ فِيهَا مِنْ أَسَاوِرَ مِن ذَهَبٍ وَيَلْبَسُونَ ثِيَابًا خُضْرًا مِّن سُندُسٍ وَإِسْتَبْرَقٍ مُّتَّكِئِينَ فِيهَا عَلَى الْأَرَائِكِ ۚ نِعْمَ الثَّوَابُ وَحَسُنَتْ مُرْتَفَقًا﴾
“Indeed, those who believe and do righteous deeds – We will not allow to be lost the reward of any who did well in deeds. They will have Gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will be adorned with bracelets of gold and wear green garments of fine silk and thick brocade, reclining on adorned couches. Excellent is the reward, and good is the resting place.”
He further said:
﴿مَا كَانَ لِأَهْلِ الْمَدِينَةِ وَمَنْ حَوْلَهُم مِّنَ الْأَعْرَابِ أَن يَتَخَلَّفُوا عَن رَّسُولِ اللَّهِ وَلَا يَرْغَبُوا بِأَنفُسِهِمْ عَن نَّفْسِهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ لَا يُصِيبُهُمْ ظَمَأٌ وَلَا نَصَبٌ وَلَا مَخْمَصَةٌ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَلَا يَطَئُونَ مَوْطِئًا يَغِيظُ الْكُفَّارَ وَلَا يَنَالُونَ مِنْ عَدُوٍّ نَّيْلًا إِلَّا كُتِبَ لَهُم بِهِ عَمَلٌ صَالِحٌ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُضِيعُ أَجْرَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ﴾
“It is not for the people of Medina and those surrounding them of the Bedouins that they remain behind after the Messenger of Allah has set out for them, nor should they prefer their own lives over his life. That is because they are not afflicted by thirst or fatigue in the cause of Allah, nor do they suffer hunger or walk any path that angers the disbelievers, nor do they take any news of the enemy but that a good deed is recorded for them. Indeed, Allah does not allow the reward of the doers of good to be lost.”
5. Deliverance from Fear and Grief
Allah removes fear and grief from His close servants. It is stated:
﴿يَا بَنِي آدَمَ إِمَّا يَأْتِيَنَّكُمْ رُسُلٌ مِّنكُمْ يَقُصُّونَ عَلَيْكُمْ آيَاتِي ۙ فَمَنِ اتَّقَىٰ وَأَصْلَحَ فَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ﴾
“O children of Adam! If there come to you messengers from among yourselves, relating to you My verses, then whoever fears Allah and reforms, there shall be no fear upon them, nor shall they grieve.”
Abdul Rahman bin Nasir As-Sa’di, may Allah have mercy on him, writes in the commentary of this verse:
﴿فَمَنِ اتَّقى﴾ “So whoever fears (Allah),” meaning the one who refrains from those matters which Allah has declared forbidden, such as shirk and other major and minor sins ﴿وَأَصْلَحَ﴾ “and reforms (both outward and inward deeds).” ﴿فَلا خَوفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ﴾ “Then those people shall have no fear.” That is, they will be safe from the evil which others fear. ﴿وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ﴾ “Nor shall they grieve.” When grief and fear are removed from them, they attain complete peace and eternal success.
Also stated:
﴿وَمَا تَكُونُ فِي شَأْنٍ وَمَا تَتْلُو مِنْهُ مِن قُرْآنٍ وَلَا تَعْمَلُونَ مِنْ عَمَلٍ إِلَّا كُنَّا عَلَيْكُمْ شُهُودًا إِذْ تُفِيضُونَ فِيهِ ۚ وَمَا يَعْزُبُ عَن رَّبِّكَ مِن مِّثْقَالِ ذَرَّةٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا فِي السَّمَاءِ وَلَا أَصْغَرَ مِن ذَٰلِكَ وَلَا أَكْبَرَ إِلَّا فِي كِتَابٍ مُّبِينٍ ﴿٦١﴾ أَلَا إِنَّ أَوْلِيَاءَ اللَّهِ لَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ﴾
“And you are in no state, and among the matters you recite from the Qur’an, and whatever deeds you do, We are fully aware of them when you begin to do them, and nothing is hidden from your Lord, neither in the earth nor in the heaven, nor anything smaller or greater except that it is in a clear book. (Listen carefully) Indeed, there is no fear upon Allah’s friends, nor shall they grieve.”
6. Excellent Provision
Allah Almighty grants them excellent provision. The command of the Almighty is:
﴿وَمَن يُؤْمِن بِاللَّهِ وَيَعْمَلْ صَالِحًا يُدْخِلْهُ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا أَبَدًا ۖ قَدْ أَحْسَنَ اللَّهُ لَهُ رِزْقًا ﴿١١﴾
“Whoever believes in Allah and does righteous deeds, Allah will admit him to gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever. Allah has prepared for him a good provision.”
7. Sins Will Be Erased
Allah Almighty bestows a favor upon them by erasing their sins. It is stated:
﴿يَوْمَ يَجْمَعُكُمْ لِيَوْمِ الْجَمْعِ ۖ ذَٰلِكَ يَوْمُ التَّغَابُنِ ۗ وَمَن يُؤْمِن بِاللَّهِ وَيَعْمَلْ صَالِحًا يُكَفِّرْ عَنْهُ سَيِّئَاتِهِ وَيُدْخِلْهُ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا أَبَدًا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ ﴿٩﴾
“On the Day He will gather you for the Day of Gathering—that is the Day of mutual loss and gain. And whoever believes in Allah and does righteousness—He will remove from him his misdeeds and admit him to gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever. That is the great attainment.”
Hafiz Ibn Kathir, may Allah have mercy on him, writes in the commentary of this verse:
The Noble Prophet (peace be upon him) said, what greater mutual loss and gain could there be than that they are shown Paradise and Hell before them? Its explanation is in the next verse, that the sins of the believers will be forgiven, and they will be admitted to the eternal Paradise with flowing rivers, and they will attain complete success. And those who disbelieve and deny will enter the fire of Hell, where they will remain burning and roasting. What could be worse than this?
Further it is stated:
﴿وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ لَنُكَفِّرَنَّ عَنْهُمْ سَيِّئَاتِهِمْ وَلَنَجْزِيَنَّهُمْ أَحْسَنَ الَّذِي كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ ﴿٧﴾
“And those who believe and do righteous deeds—we will surely remove from them their misdeeds and will surely reward them according to the best of what they used to do.”
Abdur-Rahman bin Nasir As-Sa’di, may Allah have mercy on him, writes in the commentary of this verse:
That is, those people whom Allah Almighty has blessed with faith and righteous deeds, He will erase their sins because good deeds erase bad deeds ﴿وَلَنَجْزِيَنَّهُمْ أَحْسَنَ الَّذِي كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ ﴾ and We will give them the best reward for their deeds. This refers to good deeds such as obligatory and recommended acts, and these are the best deeds of a servant because a servant also performs permissible acts.”
8. Allah’s Grace in This World and the Hereafter
They are bestowed with Allah’s grace, both in this world and in the Hereafter. It is stated:
﴿مَا عِندَكُمْ يَنفَدُ ۖ وَمَا عِندَ اللَّهِ بَاقٍ ۗ وَلَنَجْزِيَنَّ الَّذِينَ صَبَرُوا أَجْرَهُم بِأَحْسَنِ مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ ﴿٩٦﴾ مَنْ عَمِلَ صَالِحًا مِّن ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنثَىٰ وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَلَنُحْيِيَنَّهُ حَيَاةً طَيِّبَةً ۖ وَلَنَجْزِيَنَّهُمْ أَجْرَهُم بِأَحْسَنِ مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ ﴿٩٧﴾
“Whatever you have will perish, but what Allah has is lasting. And We will surely give those who were patient their reward according to the best of what they used to do. Whoever does righteousness, whether male or female, while being a believer – We will surely cause him to live a good life, and We will surely give them their reward [in the Hereafter] according to the best of what they used to do.”
Abdul Rahman bin Nasir As-Sa’di, may Allah have mercy on him, wrote in the commentary of this verse:
So whoever combines faith and righteous deeds ﴿فَلَنُحْيِيَنَّهُ حَيَاةً طَيِّبَةً﴾ “We will give him a good life.” This life consists of peace of heart, tranquility of soul, and disregard for those matters that cause distress to the heart. And Allah provides him with lawful sustenance in such a way that he does not even imagine. ﴿وَلَنَجْزِيَنَّهُمْ﴾ And We will give them in return, that is in the Hereafter ﴿أَجْرَهُم بِأَحْسَنِ مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ﴾ “the best reward for their deeds,” meaning Allah will grant them various pleasures that no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human heart has ever conceived. So Allah will bless them with goodness in this world and also grant them goodness in the Hereafter.”
At another place it is stated:
﴿وَيَسْتَجِيبُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ وَيَزِيدُهُم مِّن فَضْلِهِ ۚ وَالْكَافِرُونَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ ﴿٢٦﴾
“He hears the supplication of those who have believed and done righteous deeds and increases [for them] from His bounty. But the disbelievers have a severe punishment.”
9. The Shade of Mercy
The shade of Allah’s mercy is upon those servants. Allah the Exalted says:
﴿إِنَّ رَحْمَتَ اللَّهِ قَرِيبٌ مِّنَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ ﴿٥٦﴾
“Indeed, Allah’s mercy is near to the doers of good.”
Abdul Rahman bin Nasir Al-Sa’di, may Allah have mercy on him, in his commentary on this verse states:
“Allah’s mercy is close to those who do good. That is, those who reach the station of excellence in worshiping Allah and those who treat Allah’s servants kindly. So, the more a servant attains the station of excellence, the closer Allah’s mercy will be to him. This noble verse encourages doing good, which is not hidden.”
Also, He said:
﴿إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ إِخْوَةٌ فَأَصْلِحُوا بَيْنَ أَخَوَيْكُمْ ۚ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ ﴿١٠﴾
“The Muslims are brothers to one another, so make peace between your two brothers and fear Allah that you may receive mercy.”
10. Great Success Will Be Achieved
May Allah grant them great success on the Day of Resurrection. Allah the Exalted says:
﴿يَوْمَ يَجْمَعُكُمْ لِيَوْمِ الْجَمْعِ ۖ ذَٰلِكَ يَوْمُ التَّغَابُنِ ۗ وَمَن يُؤْمِن بِاللَّهِ وَيَعْمَلْ صَالِحًا يُكَفِّرْ عَنْهُ سَيِّئَاتِهِ وَيُدْخِلْهُ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا أَبَدًا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ ﴿٩﴾
“The Day He will gather you for the Day of Gathering (i.e., the Day of Resurrection) – that will be the Day of mutual loss and gain. And whoever believes in Allah and does righteousness – He will remove from him his misdeeds and admit him to gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever. That is the great attainment.”
In another place, Allah the Almighty says:
﴿تِلْكَ حُدُودُ اللَّهِ ۚ وَمَن يُطِعِ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ يُدْخِلْهُ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا ۚ وَذَٰلِكَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ ﴿١٣﴾
“These are the limits set by Allah, and whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger – He will admit him to gardens beneath which rivers flow, abiding therein forever. And that is the great attainment.”
11. The Friendship of Allah Almighty
The command of Allah Almighty is:
﴿إِنَّ وَلِيِّيَ اللَّهُ الَّذِي نَزَّلَ الْكِتَابَ ۖ وَهُوَ يَتَوَلَّى الصَّالِحِينَ ﴿١٩٦﴾
“Indeed, My helper is Allah, who has sent down this Book, and He is the helper of the righteous.”
Abdul Rahman bin Nasir Al-Sa’di, may Allah have mercy on him, writes in the interpretation of this verse:
The wali (friend) is Allah: “My protector is Allah,” who supports me, grants me every kind of benefit, and protects me from every kind of harm. ﴿إِنَّ وَلِيِّيَ اللَّهُ﴾ He who sent down the Book, in which there is guidance, healing, and light; this is Allah Almighty’s guardianship for the religious training of His special servants. ﴿وَهُوَ يَتَوَلَّى الصَّالِحِينَ﴾ “And He supports the righteous.” Those are the people whose intentions, deeds, and words are pure, as Allah Almighty has said: “Allah is the ally and protector of those who believe; He brings them out from darkness into light.”
So the righteous believer, when through faith and piety they make their Lord their friend and protector and do not make any entity their friend that can neither benefit nor harm anyone, then Allah Almighty becomes their friend and helper, bestows His kindness and grace upon them, helps them in the welfare and interests of their religion and worldly life, and removes every undesirable thing from them through their faith. Allah Almighty says:
﴿إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُدَافِعُ عَنِ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ كُلَّ خَوَّانٍ كَفُورٍ ﴿٣٨﴾
“Indeed, Allah defends those who have believed from their enemies.”
Also, the command of Allah Almighty is:
﴿إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ سَيَجْعَلُ لَهُمُ الرَّحْمَٰنُ وُدًّا ﴿٩٦﴾
“Indeed, those who have believed and done righteous deeds – the Most Merciful will appoint for them affection.”
12. Success and Salvation
Among the divine rewards for the friends of Allah is success and salvation from Hell. Allah the Exalted says:
﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا ارْكَعُوا وَاسْجُدُوا وَاعْبُدُوا رَبَّكُمْ وَافْعَلُوا الْخَيْرَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ ﴿٧٧﴾
“O you who have believed, bow and prostrate and worship your Lord and do good – that you may succeed.”
﴿ فَأَمَّا مَن تَابَ وَآمَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحًا فَعَسَىٰ أَن يَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُفْلِحِينَ ﴿٦٧﴾
“Indeed, he who repents and believes and does righteousness will be among the successful.”
13. Guidance to the Straight Path
The command of the Exalted Allah is:
﴿ وَإِنِّي لَغَفَّارٌ لِّمَن تَابَ وَآمَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحًا ثُمَّ اهْتَدَىٰ ﴿٨٢﴾
“Yes! Indeed, I will forgive those who repent, believe, do righteous deeds, and remain on the straight path.”
Abdur Rahman bin Nasir As-Sa’di, may Allah have mercy on him, writes in the commentary of this verse:
“Despite how great a sin a servant may have committed, the door of repentance is always open for him. Therefore, Allah Almighty said: ﴿وَإِنِّي لَغَفَّارٌ﴾ meaning, whoever repents from innovation, immorality, and wickedness, and believes in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, and the Day of Judgment, and performs righteous deeds with heart, body, and tongue, then I am Most Forgiving and Owner of boundless mercy. Then he is rightly guided, that is, he follows the straight path. The Noble Messenger followed this path and adhered to the true religion. So this is the person whom Allah Almighty will forgive all his sins, forgive his past sins and his persistence in them, because he has come to Allah’s service with the greatest cause for forgiveness and Allah’s mercy. Indeed, all causes depend on these matters because repentance erases all past sins.
Remaining steadfast on all kinds of guidance, such as acquiring knowledge to understand the meaning of a verse or hadith, reflecting upon them, inviting to the true religion, rejecting innovation, disbelief, and misguidance, jihad, migration, and other aspects of guidance. All these erase sins and help in achieving the desired destination.”
14. Good End
The end of Allah’s close servants is good. Allah the Exalted says:
﴿الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ طُوبَىٰ لَهُمْ وَحُسْنُ مَآبٍ ﴿٢٩﴾
“Those who believe and do righteous deeds, for them is prosperity and an excellent place of return.”
Abdur Rahman bin Nasir As-Sa’di, may Allah have mercy on him, writes in the commentary of this verse:
Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, said: ﴿الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ﴾ “Those who believe and do righteous deeds.” That is, those who believe in their hearts in Allah, His angels, His books, and the Last Day, and perform righteous deeds, meaning deeds of the heart such as love of Allah, fear of Allah, hope in Allah, etc., and deeds of the limbs such as prayer, thereby confirming this faith ﴿طُوبَىٰ لَهُمْ وَحُسْنُ مَآبٍ﴾. “For them is prosperity and an excellent place of return.” That is, their condition is pure and their end is good, and this is because they have attained the pleasure of Allah and honor and respect from Him in this world and the Hereafter, and they have been granted complete comfort and full peace of heart. Among all these blessings is also “the tree of Tuba in Paradise,” such that if a rider travels under its shade for one hundred years, the shade will never end.”
15. Divine Vision
Allah Almighty will grant His beloved and close servants the vision of Himself on the Day of Judgment. The command of Allah Almighty is:
﴿قُلْ إِنَّمَا أَنَا بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُكُمْ يُوحَىٰ إِلَيَّ أَنَّمَا إِلَٰهُكُمْ إِلَٰهٌ وَاحِدٌ ۖ فَمَن كَانَ يَرْجُو لِقَاءَ رَبِّهِ فَلْيَعْمَلْ عَمَلًا صَالِحًا وَلَا يُشْرِكْ بِعِبَادَةِ رَبِّهِ أَحَدًا ﴿١١٠﴾
“Say, ‘I am only a man like you, but it is revealed to me that your god is one God. So whoever hopes to meet his Lord, let him do righteous deeds and not associate anyone in the worship of his Lord.'”
Abdul Rahman bin Nasir Al-Sa’di, may Allah have mercy on him, writes in the commentary of this verse:
﴿قُلْ﴾ O Muhammad (peace be upon him), say to those disbelievers: ﴿إِنَّمَا أَنَا بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُكُمْ﴾ “I am also a man like you,” meaning I am not a deity, I have no share in divine authority, nor do I possess knowledge of the unseen, nor do I have the treasures of Allah. ﴿إِنَّمَا أَنَا بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُكُمْ﴾ I am one of the servants of my Lord. ﴿يُوحَىٰ إِلَيَّ أَنَّمَا إِلَٰهُكُمْ إِلَٰهٌ وَاحِدٌ﴾ Revelation comes to me that your god is one God. This means I have the distinction that Allah Almighty reveals to me, and the greatest revelation is that He has informed you that your god is one, meaning He has no partner, nor is anyone else deserving of worship even to the smallest degree. And I invite you to those deeds which bring you closer to Allah Almighty and benefit you with His reward and keep you away from His punishment. Therefore, it is said: ﴿فَمَن كَانَ يَرْجُو لِقَاءَ رَبِّهِ فَلْيَعْمَلْ عَمَلًا صَالِحًا﴾ “So whoever hopes to meet his Lord, let him do righteous deeds.” This refers to deeds that are obligatory and recommended. ﴿وَلَا يُشْرِكْ بِعِبَادَةِ رَبِّهِ أَحَدًا﴾ “And do not associate anyone in the worship of your Lord,” meaning do not perform deeds for show, but make your deeds purely for the pleasure of Allah Almighty. This is what encompasses sincerity and following, and through this, the desired reward can be attained. Those who adopt other ways are losers in this world and the Hereafter, deprived of the nearness and pleasure of their Master and Lord.”
16. Divine Pleasure
One of the divine rewards is the pleasure of Allah, and this is the desired and ultimate goal. Allah Almighty says:
﴿فَتَبَسَّمَ ضَاحِكًا مِّن قَوْلِهَا وَقَالَ رَبِّ أَوْزِعْنِي أَنْ أَشْكُرَ نِعْمَتَكَ الَّتِي أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيَّ وَعَلَىٰ وَالِدَيَّ وَأَنْ أَعْمَلَ صَالِحًا تَرْضَاهُ وَأَدْخِلْنِي بِرَحْمَتِكَ فِي عِبَادِكَ الصَّالِحِينَ ﴿١٩﴾
“At this, Solomon smiled broadly and prayed, ‘My Lord, grant me the ability to be grateful for the blessings You have bestowed upon me and my parents, and to do righteous deeds that please You. And admit me by Your mercy among Your righteous servants.'”
At another place, while granting His pleasure to the righteous servants, He says:
﴿يَا أَيَّتُهَا النَّفْسُ الْمُطْمَئِنَّةُ ﴿٢٧﴾ ارْجِعِي إِلَىٰ رَبِّكِ رَاضِيَةً مَّرْضِيَّةً ﴿٢٨﴾ فَادْخُلِي فِي عِبَادِي ﴿٢٩﴾ وَادْخُلِي جَنَّتِي ﴿٣٠﴾
“O tranquil soul, return to your Lord, well-pleased and pleasing [to Him]. So enter among My righteous servants, and enter My Paradise.”
17. Admission Among the Righteous
Allah the Exalted says:
﴿وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ لَنُدْخِلَنَّهُمْ فِي الصَّالِحِينَ ﴿٩﴾
“And those who believe and do righteous deeds, We will surely admit them among the righteous.”
At another place, it is stated:
﴿وَمَن يُطِعِ اللَّهَ وَالرَّسُولَ فَأُولَٰئِكَ مَعَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِم مِّنَ النَّبِيِّينَ وَالصِّدِّيقِينَ وَالشُّهَدَاءِ وَالصَّالِحِينَ ۚ وَحَسُنَ أُولَٰئِكَ رَفِيقًا ﴿٦٩﴾
“And whoever obeys Allah and the Messenger – those will be with the ones upon whom Allah has bestowed favor (i.e.,) the prophets, the truthful, the martyrs, and the righteous. And excellent are those as companions.”
Abdul Rahman bin Nasir As-Sa’di, may Allah have mercy on him, says in the commentary of this verse:
That is, every person who, according to their capacity and obligations, whether male or female, child or elderly, obeys Allah and His Messenger. ﴿فَأُولَٰئِكَ مَعَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِم﴾ These are the ones who will be with those upon whom Allah has bestowed favor. That is, He has granted them a great blessing which is the cause of perfect success and felicity. ﴿مِّنَ النَّبِيِّينَ﴾ These are the people whom Allah has honored by granting them distinction and special favor by sending them as messengers to the people and inviting them to Allah. ﴿وَالصِّدِّيقِينَ﴾ These are the ones who confirmed the revelation brought by the Messenger completely; they recognized the truth and confirmed it with complete certainty, then established this truth through their words, actions, states, and by inviting to Allah. ﴿وَالشُّهَدَاءِ﴾ These are the ones who fought in the way of Allah so that the word of Allah may be exalted and were killed. ﴿وَالصَّالِحِينَ﴾ These are the people whose outward and inward are correct, and as a result, their deeds are correct. So every person who obeys Allah will benefit from the companionship of these people.
﴿وَحَسُنَ أُولَٰئِكَ رَفِيقًا﴾ Being gathered with these mentioned companions of distinction in blessed gardens and enjoying the closeness of these companions in the presence of Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, is a very excellent companionship. ﴿ذَٰلِكَ الْفَضْلُ﴾ This distinction which they have attained ﴿مِنَ اللَّهِ﴾ is from Allah. It is Allah who has granted them the ability and helped them in achieving it and has given them so much reward that their deeds alone could not have reached that. ﴿وَكَفَىٰ بِاللَّهِ عَلِيمًا﴾ That is, Allah knows the conditions of His servants and He knows who among them deserves abundant reward through those righteous deeds upon which their hearts and limbs agree.
18. Good Deeds Will Be Received in Return for Evils
The command of Allah Almighty is:
﴿إِلَّا مَن تَابَ وَآمَنَ وَعَمِلَ عَمَلًا صَالِحًا فَأُولَٰئِكَ يُبَدِّلُ اللَّهُ سَيِّئَاتِهِمْ حَسَنَاتٍ ۗ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا ﴿٧٠﴾
“Except for those who repent, believe, and do righteous deeds. For those, Allah will replace their evil deeds with good. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful.”
Abdul Rahman bin Nasir Al-Sa’di, may Allah have mercy on him, in his commentary on this verse says: ﴿إِلَّا مَن تَابَ﴾ But whoever repents, meaning whoever repents from those sins and other sins, immediately abandons the sins and regrets them, and firmly resolves not to commit them again. ﴿وَآمَنَ﴾ And believes. Meaning he truly believes in Allah, who demands abandoning sins and acquiring good deeds. ﴿وَعَمِلَ عَمَلًا صَالِحًا﴾ And does righteous deeds. Meaning he performs such good deeds which the Shariah commands and seeks the pleasure of Allah Almighty through them. ﴿فَأُولَٰئِكَ يُبَدِّلُ اللَّهُ سَيِّئَاتِهِمْ حَسَنَاتٍ﴾ Then Allah will replace the sins of such people with good deeds. Meaning their actions and words that were ready to be performed on the path of evil are transformed into good deeds. Thus, their polytheism is changed into faith, their disobedience into obedience, and the evils they committed are transformed into good deeds. Then their characteristic becomes that whatever sin they commit afterward, they repent and choose the path of obedience, which also transforms that sin into good deeds, as is evident from the noble verse. In this regard, a hadith has been narrated about a person whose some sins Allah will hold him accountable for and count those sins before him, then turn every evil into a good deed. That person will say to Allah Almighty:
«قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: إني لأعلم آخر أهل الجنة دخولا الجنة ….. فيقال عملت كذا وكذا ، كذا وكذا ، وعملت يوم كذا وكذا ، كذا وكذا فيقول نعم لا يستطيع أن ينكر وهو مشفق من كبار ذنوبه أن تعرض عليه فيقال له فإن لك مكان كل سيئة حسنة ، فيقول: رب قد عملت أشياء لا أراه هاهنا»
“O my Lord! I had many evils that I do not see.”
In one place it is stated:
﴿وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ لَنُكَفِّرَنَّ عَنْهُمْ سَيِّئَاتِهِمْ وَلَنَجْزِيَنَّهُمْ أَحْسَنَ الَّذِي كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ ﴿٧﴾
“And those who believe and do righteous deeds – We will surely remove from them their misdeeds and will surely reward them according to the best of what they used to do.”
19. Allah Almighty will make them His companions
Allah Almighty says:
﴿وَالَّذِينَ جَاهَدُوا فِينَا لَنَهْدِيَنَّهُمْ سُبُلَنَا ۚ وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَمَعَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ ﴿٦٩﴾
“And those who strive for Us – We will surely guide them to Our ways. And indeed, Allah is with the doers of good.”
Abdur Rahman bin Nasir As-Sa’di, may Allah have mercy on him, writes under this verse: ﴿وَالَّذِينَ جَاهَدُوا فِينَا﴾ “And those who strive for Us.” This refers to those who migrated in the way of Allah, fought jihad against their enemies, and made every effort to follow the pleasure of Allah Almighty. ﴿لَنَهْدِيَنَّهُمْ سُبُلَنَا﴾ “We will surely guide them to Our ways.” We set them on the paths that lead to Us, and this is because they are righteous. ﴿وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَمَعَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ﴾ And Allah Almighty is with the doers of good through His help, support, and guidance.”
This noble verse indicates that among people, those most deserving of following the truth are the people of jihad. From this verse, it is also understood that whoever fulfills Allah Almighty’s commands in the best manner, Allah helps him and makes the means of guidance easy for him. This verse also proves that whoever struggles in seeking religious knowledge obtains Allah Almighty’s assistance and guidance in achieving his desired goals and divine matters that are beyond the scope of ijtihad, and matters of knowledge become easy for him because seeking religious knowledge falls under the category of jihad fi sabilillah. In fact, it is one of the two types of jihad that only special people undertake. That is, they wage verbal and linguistic jihad against hypocrites and disbelievers. Struggling to teach matters of religion and responding to the objections of opponents of the truth, even if they are Muslims, is also jihad.
20. The Help of Allah Almighty
One of the blessings of Allah is that He includes His help. Allah the Exalted says:
﴿إِنَّا لَنَنصُرُ رُسُلَنَا وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَيَوْمَ يَقُومُ الْأَشْهَادُ ﴿٥١﴾
“Indeed, We help Our messengers and those who believe during the life of this world and on the Day when the witnesses will stand.”
At another place, it is stated:
﴿بِنَصْرِ اللَّهِ ۚ يَنصُرُ مَن يَشَاءُ ۖ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الرَّحِيمُ ﴿٥﴾ وَعْدَ اللَّهِ ۖ لَا يُخْلِفُ اللَّهُ وَعْدَهُ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٦﴾ يَعْلَمُونَ ظَاهِرًا مِّنَ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَهُمْ عَنِ الْآخِرَةِ هُمْ غَافِلُونَ ﴿٧﴾
“With the help of Allah, He helps whom He wills. He is the All-Mighty, Most Merciful. Allah’s promise is true; Allah does not break His promise, but most people do not know. They only know the apparent of the worldly life, and they are completely heedless of the Hereafter.”
21. Divine Nearness
Allah Almighty states in His Holy Book about His close servants:
﴿وَالسَّابِقُونَ السَّابِقُونَ ﴿١٠﴾ أُولَٰئِكَ الْمُقَرَّبُونَ ﴿١١﴾ فِي جَنَّاتِ النَّعِيمِ ﴿١٢﴾
“And those foremost [in faith] will be foremost [in Paradise]. Those are the ones brought near [to Allah]. In the Gardens of Pleasure.”
Abdul Rahman bin Nasir Al-Sa’di, may Allah have mercy on him, writes in the interpretation of these verses: ﴿وَالسَّابِقُونَ السَّابِقُونَ أُولَٰئِكَ الْمُقَرَّبُونَ﴾ “And those who take the lead are indeed those who take the lead; these are the ones brought near. That is, those who excelled in doing good deeds in this world will excel in entering Paradise in the Hereafter. These are the people who will be described with the attribute of being close in the highest ranks of Paradise, Al-A’la Al-‘Alyeen. There is no higher station than this.”
Hafiz Ibn Kathir, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
All those who hasten and excel others in acceptance are included in this. There is another place in the Holy Quran:
﴿وَسَارِعُوا إِلَىٰ مَغْفِرَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَجَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا السَّمَاوَاتُ وَالْأَرْضُ أُعِدَّتْ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ ﴿١٣٣﴾
“And hasten to forgiveness from your Lord and a garden as wide as the heavens and earth, prepared for the righteous.” So whoever hastens towards good deeds in this world will also be foremost towards Allah’s blessings in the Hereafter.”
The reward for every deed is of the same kind; as one does, so one receives. Therefore, here they are described as Allah’s close ones, and they are in the garden of blessings.
