Acknowledging the Grace of Allah

Now that this noble principle has been established, it is known that  deeds,  in and  of  themselves,  do  not  necessitate  salvation from the Fire and entry into Paradise, let alone necessitating the ascension to the uppermost levels of Paradise: the levels of Those Brought  Close, and  seeing the face of the Lord  of  the worlds, and it is known that this can only come to pass through the mercy of  Allah, His grace, and forgiveness. This then requires the believer to abandon thinking highly of his deeds and to look solely to the grace of Allah and His blessings.

One of the Gnostics was asked, 'Which deed is best?' He replied, 'Realising the grace of Allah, Mighty and Magnificent.' He then recited,

If quantities were able to aid in any way,

They would join the obtuse with the judicious.

When all of this is understood, it is obligatory upon the believing the servant; the servant who desires salvation from the Fire and entry into Paradise, who desires to be close to His Master and to look on at His face; to seek all of this by taking to the means that lead to Allah's mercy, pardon, forgiveness, pleasure, and love. It is in this way that he will attain His munificence. The means are the various deeds Allah has appointed: only those deeds that He has legislated upon  the tongue  of His Messenger: only those deeds that His Messenger told us would serve to draw us closer to Allah: those deeds that He loves and lead to His pleasure and forgiveness. Allah, Exalted is He, says:

“Allah's Mercy is close to the good-doers.”[1]

“My Mercy extends to all things but I will prescribe it for those who have taqwa…”[2]

So it is obligatory upon the servant to seek out those traits of taqwa[3]   and goodness  that Allah  has legislated in His Book  or upon  the  tongue  of  His Messenger (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) and having done  so, draw closer to Allah,  Mighty  and Magnificent, through  enacting them.  There is no other path that can lead to the goal of the believing servant.