The Meaning of the Statement of the Exalted: {To test you, which of you is best in deed}

Question:
The Exalted says: [Hud: 7]. Is it understood from this verse that the important thing is the goodness of the deed, without looking at its quantity or its continuity?

Answer:
This indicates that goodness is more important; the excellence of the deed is more important than its quantity. Although quantity is required, the more important thing than quantity is the excellence of the deed.
For this reason, it was said to Abu Ali, Ibn al-Fudayl ibn Iyad: "O Abu Ali, what is the meaning of the best deed?" He said: "That which is most sincere and most correct." It was said: "What is its sincerity? And what is its correctness?" He said: "If the deed is sincere but not correct, it is not accepted. And if it is correct but not sincere, it is not accepted, until it is both sincere and correct." It was said: "O Abu Ali, what is the sincere and correct deed?" He said: "The sincere is that it is for Allah, and the correct is that it is in accordance with the Sunnah."
Therefore, paying attention to the excellence of the deed is greater and more appropriate than quantity. For the believer to pay attention to the sincerity of the deed and purifying it from showing off and other types of shirk (associating partners with Allah), and to pay attention to its conformity with the Shari'ah, and that there be no religious innovation in it; this is more important than quantity. And if this is established for him, let him increase in the deed in which this is established for him—sincerity is established for him in it, and truthfulness is established for him in it. As for paying attention to quantity without caring for sincerity and caring for truthfulness—meaning: following the Prophet—this is not acceptable. It is obligatory that the attention to sincerity and following be greater than quantity.