Deeds are a cause for entering Paradise, not the price of Paradise

Question:
The questioner asks: How do we reconcile the saying of Allah the Exalted: “Enter Paradise because of what you used to do,” with His saying (peace and blessings be upon him): “None of you will enter Paradise by his deeds”?

Answer:
The answer to this is simple: the preposition “bi” (by) in this context is not one of price, but one of causation. It is a causal “bi,” meaning “by reason of” or “because of” “Enter Paradise because of what you used to do.” In other words, it is by reason of what you used to do. Deeds are a cause, not the obligating factor for entering Paradise. Paradise is not entered except by the mercy of Allah. For this reason, he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “None of you will enter Paradise by his deeds.” They said: “Not even you, O Messenger of Allah?” He said: “Not even I, except that Allah should cover me with His mercy and favor.” So deeds are a cause for entering Paradise, not the price of Paradise, because Paradise cannot be priced. Paradise is not priced by deeds or by anything else, and nothing is equal to it. Yes.