Explanation of the words of Imam al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) regarding what he quoted: "
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The Shaykh : In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
When the author (may Allah have mercy on him) mentioned the verses regarding uprightness and the hadiths regarding it, he mentioned the hadith that indicates that uprightness is obligatory only according to one’s ability. This is the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): “Come close,” meaning come close to what you have been commanded, and strive to approach it to the extent of your ability. And his saying means aim for the right, i.e., aim for hitting the mark, meaning strive to ensure that your deeds are hitting the mark, hitting the truth to the extent of your ability. This is because no matter how much a person reaches in terms of piety, he must make mistakes, as came in the hadith from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: Sunan Ibn Majah 4251Hasan (Darussalam) And he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sahih Muslim 2749 So the person is commanded to come close and aim for the right to the extent he can. Then he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sahih Muslim 2816g meaning that no one will be saved from the Fire by his deeds. This is because deeds do not reach what is obligatory for Allah Mighty and Majestic in terms of gratitude, and what is obligatory for Him from His servants in terms of rights. But Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, covers the person with His mercy and forgives him. When he said this, Sahih Muslim 2816g they said: He said: Even the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) will not be saved by his deeds, Sunan Ibn Majah 4201Sahih (Darussalam) so this indicates that no matter what rank or station of closeness to Allah a person reaches, he will not be saved by his deeds. Even the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), had it not been that Allah bestowed upon him by forgiving what came before of his sin and what came after, his deeds would not have saved him.
If someone were to say: There are texts from the Book and the Sunnah that indicate that righteous deeds save from the Fire and enter one into Paradise, such as His saying, the Exalted:[An-Nahl 16:97] How do you reconcile this with the hadith we heard? The answer to that is to say: They are reconciled by saying that what is negated is a person entering Paradise by his deeds alone, i.e., in exchange. As for what is affirmed, it is that deeds are a cause, not a reward. Deeds are undoubtedly a cause for entering Paradise and being saved from the Fire, but they are not the reward, nor are they the sole thing by which a person enters Paradise. Rather, the grace and mercy of Allah are the cause; they are the two things that lead a person to Paradise and save him from the Fire.
In this hadith, among the benefits, is that a person should not be proud of his deeds, no matter what they are. No matter what righteous deeds he does, do not be proud of your deeds. Your deeds are little compared to the right of Allah upon you.
In it, also among the benefits, is that it is recommended for a person to constantly ask Allah to cover him with His mercy. More than this, say: “O Allah, cover me with Your mercy and grace” constantly, because your deeds will not lead you to the pleasure of Allah except by the mercy of Allah Mighty and Majestic.
In it is evidence of the eagerness of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) for knowledge. For this reason, when he said:Sahih Muslim 2816g they asked for details: Does this generality include him or not? So he (peace and blessings be upon him) clarified to them that it includes him. And whoever reflects on the conditions of the Companions with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) will find that they were the most eager people for knowledge, and that they did not leave anything they needed in matters of their religion or their worldly affairs without asking about it. And Allah is the One who grants success.
The reader: The author (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “Chapter on reflecting on the greatness of the creations of Allah, the transience of this world and the terrors of the Hereafter and all their affairs, and on restraining the self, refining it, and directing it toward uprightness. Allah the Exalted said:[Saba 34:46]”
When the author (may Allah have mercy on him) mentioned the verses regarding uprightness and the hadiths regarding it, he mentioned the hadith that indicates that uprightness is obligatory only according to one’s ability. This is the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
Come close and aim for the right
قاربوا وسددواAim for the right
سددواEvery son of Adam commits sin, and the best of those who commit sin are those who repent.
كل بني آدم خطاء وخير الخطائين التوابونif you were not to commit sin, Allah would sweep you out of existence and He would replace (you by) those people who would commit sin and seek forgiveness from Allah, and He would have pardoned them.
لو لم تذنبوا لذهب الله بكم ثم لجاء بقوم يذنبون فيستغفرون الله فيغفر لهمand understand that none amongst you can attain salvation because of his deeds alone
واعلموا أنه لن ينجو أحد منكم بعملهnone amongst you can attain salvation because of his deeds alone
لن ينجو أحد منكم بعملهNor you
ولا أنتNor I
ولا أناUnless Allah encompasses me with mercy
إلا أن يتغمدني الله برحمة منهIf someone were to say: There are texts from the Book and the Sunnah that indicate that righteous deeds save from the Fire and enter one into Paradise, such as His saying, the Exalted:
Whoever does righteousness, whether male or female, while he is 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.
من عمل صالحا من ذكر أو أنثى وهو مؤمن فلنحيينه حياة طيبة ولنجزينهم أجرهم بأحسن ما كانوا يعملونIn this hadith, among the benefits, is that a person should not be proud of his deeds, no matter what they are. No matter what righteous deeds he does, do not be proud of your deeds. Your deeds are little compared to the right of Allah upon you.
In it, also among the benefits, is that it is recommended for a person to constantly ask Allah to cover him with His mercy. More than this, say: “O Allah, cover me with Your mercy and grace” constantly, because your deeds will not lead you to the pleasure of Allah except by the mercy of Allah Mighty and Majestic.
In it is evidence of the eagerness of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) for knowledge. For this reason, when he said:
none amongst you can attain salvation because of his deeds alone
لن ينجو أحد منكم بعملهThe reader: The author (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “Chapter on reflecting on the greatness of the creations of Allah, the transience of this world and the terrors of the Hereafter and all their affairs, and on restraining the self, refining it, and directing it toward uprightness. Allah the Exalted said: