Allah Has Accorded to Himself Goodness

And what is meant by this is that Allah, Most Glorified has chosen from every race the best of it and accorded it to himself, for He, Most Glorified, Most High does not love anything except that which is good and He does not accept words, deeds or charity except those which are good.

And from this the signs of the slave's happiness and wretchedness are known, for nothing suits the good person except that which is good and he does not accept anything except it, nor does he feel at ease except with it, nor is his heart at rest except with it.

He speaks good words which are the only words that ascend to Allah and he is the most averse to obscene words, lying, backbiting, tale bearing, slander, false testimony and every kind of evil speech.

Similarly, he does not like any deeds except the best of them — and they are those upon whose goodness sound natural instincts are agreed, along with the Prophetic Laws and which are attested to by rational minds, such as his worshipping Allah, Alone, without partners and preferring His Pleasure to his own whims and desires and draws closer to Allah due to his striving and he behaves towards His creation in the best way he can, treating them as he would like them to treat him.

His traits of character are the best, such as gentleness, dignity, patience, compassion, loyalty, honesty, a true heart, modesty and he protects his countenance from surrender or humility towards anyone besides Allah Likewise, he does not choose any but the best and purest of foods, which are those that are lawful and wholesome and nourish the body and the mind in the best way without causing any ill-effect to the body.

Nor does he select except the best of women as a wife, nor as friends and companions except those who are good. Such a person is one of those of whom Allah said:

"Those whose lives the angels take while they are in a pious state (i.e. pure from all evil, and worshipping none but Allah Alone) saying (to them): "Salamun 'Alaikum (peace be on you)” enter you Paradise, because of that (the good) which you used to do (in the world)." [1] — and to whom the guardians of Paradise say:

"Salamun 'Alaikum (peace be upon you)! You have done well, so enter here to abide therein forever." [2]

And the use of the letter (Fa') in the Verse implies causality, i.e. because of your good deeds, enter it.

And Allah, Most High says:

"Bad statements are for bad people (or bad women for bad men) and bad people for bad statements (or bad men for bad women). Good statements are for good people (or good women for good men) and good people for good statements (or good men for good women): such (good people) are innocent of (every) bad statement which they say; for them is forgiveness, and Rizqun Kanm (generous provision, i.e. Paradise)."[3]

This Verse has been explained as meaning that evil words belong to evil people and good words belong to good people. It has also been explained as meaning that good women are for good men and vice versa and (in fact,) it includes this meaning and others. And Allah, Most Glorified has placed all manner of good in Paradise due to and all manner of evil in the Fire, so the former is an abode which was chosen for good, while the latter is an abode which was chosen for evil. And there is an abode in which good and evil are mixed and that is this abode (i.e. the life of this world). So when the Appointed Day comes, Allah will distinguish between the evil and the good and then the matter will rest upon two abodes only.

And what is meant is that Allah has made signs for the wretchedness and happiness by which they are known. And there might be two components in a man (i.e. good and evil), so whichever of them is preponderant, he belongs to its people; so if Allah wishes good for His slave, He will purify him before death and he will not require cleansing by the Fire. The Wisdom of Him, Most High rejects that He should make the slave to be accompanied in his abode by his evil deeds and so He places him in the Fire in order to cleanse him of sins.

And the time for which he will remain in the Fire is dependent upon the rapidity or slowness with which the sins are removed. But since the polytheist is evil by nature, the Fire does not cleanse him, just as if a dog enters the sea (it is not cleansed), while because the Believer is free from sins, the Fire is forbidden to him, since there is nothing in him which necessitates cleansing; so Glorified be He Whose Wisdom overwhelms the minds.