Fath al-Rabbani

Benefits: … Try to understand the meaning of this hadith. The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam intends to convey that salvation from punishment and success with reward and recompense depend upon the mercy and grace of Allah Ta'ala. The meaning of the doer's action is not that now its reward has become obligatory upon Allah Ta'ala, and it has become such a right of the servant that Allah Ta'ala must fulfill it, whereas even the ability to perform the deed was granted by Allah Ta'ala, and its means were also provided by Him. In reality, the reward and recompense for good deeds is purely a demand of Allah Ta'ala's mercy, as Allah Ta'ala has said: {وَادْعُوْہُ خَوْفًا وَّطَمَعًا اِنَّ رَحْمَتَ اللّٰہِ قَرِیْب’‘ مِّنَ الْمُحْسِنِیْنَ} … And call upon Allah Ta'ala with fear and hope; indeed, the mercy of Allah Ta'ala is near to the doers of good. (Al-A'raf: 56)

However, this blessed hadith should not be understood to mean that the value of deeds has been nullified. In fact, the servants are being informed that their deeds will be completed by the grace and mercy of Allah Ta'ala, so that they do not begin to take pride in their actions, but rather, even after performing many deeds, they should consider themselves in need of Allah Ta'ala's mercy and remain expectant of it.

In this way, there is no contradiction between this hadith and this verse: {وَتِلْکَ الْجَنَّۃُ الَّتِیْٓ اُوْرِثْتُمُوْھَا بِمَا کُنْتُمْ تَعْمَلُوْنَ۔} … And you have been made heirs to this Paradise because of the deeds you used to do. (Surah Az-Zukhruf: 72)

In summary, the importance of deeds is established in its own place, but those who perform deeds are in need of Allah Ta'ala's mercy to receive their recompense and attain success.