Al-Matalib al-'Aliyah 2941 — Clarifying that deeds are part of faith

It is narrated from al-Qasim that a man came to Sayyiduna Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) and asked him about the reality of faith. He recited this verse of the Noble Qur'an: "Righteousness is not only that you turn your faces towards the east and the west; rather, true righteousness is that of one who believes in Allah" [Surah al-Baqarah: 177], up to His saying: "Those are the ones who have been true, and it is they who are the God-fearing" [Surah al-Baqarah: 177]. The man said: "I did not ask you about righteousness (rather, my question was about faith)." Sayyiduna Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) replied: "A man came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and asked him (peace and blessings be upon him) exactly the same question you have asked me, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) recited to him the very verse I have recited to you, and that man also gave him (peace and blessings be upon him) the same reply you have given me. When he refused to be satisfied with that answer alone, he (peace and blessings be upon him) said to him: 'Come close to me.' When he came close, he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: 'Indeed, the believer is one who, when he does a good deed, it gladdens him and he hopes for its reward; and when he commits a sin, it grieves him and he fears its punishment.'"
This narration is munqati' (broken), and in the books of tafsir there is a chain for it that is more authentic than this one.