Misery and Felicity Occur Through His Justice and Mercy

The  true purpose  of  his (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wasallam) words, "Your actions alone will not save any of you" and "Actions  alone will not cause one to enter Paradise"  can be  further  understood  when it is realised that the reward of good deeds, multiplied manifold, only comes about by the beneficence  and grace of Allah, Mighty and Magnificent. He recompenses a good deed tenfold to seven-hundred fold to whatever He wills.[1] Were He to recompense a good deed with its like, in the same way that He does for an evil deed, good deeds would never have the strength to render void the evil deeds, and one would surely be destroyed.

Ibn Mas'ud (radhyAlldhu ‘anhu) said, while describing good deeds,

'If one is an ally (wali) of Allah, and there remain an atoms weight of good [after the mutual recompense], Allah would increase this manifold such that he enter Paradise through it.[2] If he be one for whom misery is decreed, the Angel says, "My Lord, His good deeds have vanished yet many more people remain seeking [mutual recompense]."  He will reply, "Take their evil deeds and add them to his evil deeds, then prepare for him a place of torment in the Fire."[3]

Therefore it becomes clear that Allah multiplies the good deeds of those He wishes felicity for until they are able to pay off   any penalties [from any who  seek mutual recompense]; and  if, after all this; there remains even an atoms weight worth of good, Allah will multiply this until He enters Paradise through  it. All this by His grace and beneficence! However, whoever Allah has decreed misery for; his deeds will not be multiplied to the extent that they are able to pay off his penalties.  Instead any good deeds performed by this latter person will only be multiplied ten-fold, apportioned amongst his creditors   who  will accept  them  all and yet still require  further  repayment   for  remaining   injustices, and therefore   their  bad  deeds  are piled onto  his, thereby  causing  him to  enter  the  Fire. This by His justice![4]

It is in this light that Yahya ibn Mu'adh said, 'When He extends His grace, not a single evil deed remains for that person!  When His justice is brought forth, not a single good deed remains for that person.’[5]

It is also established in Bukhari and Muslim that the Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “Whoever’s account is scrutinised  will be destroyed.” [6]

In another narration, "...will be punished"[7] and in another narration, "...Will be defeated."[8]

Abu Nu'aym records on the authority of ‘Ali that the Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said,

"Allah revealed to a Prophet amongst the Prophets of the Children of Israel, 'Say to those who obey Me amongst your nation that they should not overly rely on their deeds for on the Day of Judgment I will not settle the accounts of a servant I wish to punish except that I will punish him. Say to those who disobey me amongst your nation that they should not despair for I readily forgive even the great sins"[9]

'Abdu'l- (Aziz ibn Abu Rawwad said, 'Allah inspired Dawud (alayhis-salam) saying, "Dawud, give glad tidings to the sinners and warn those who give in charity." Surprised, Dawud said, "My Lord, why should I give glad tidings to the sinners and warn those who give in charity?" He replied, "Give glad tidings to the sinners that there is no sin that I find too grievous to forgive,[10] and warn those who give in charity that there is no servant upon whom I mete My justice and judgment except that he is destroyed" [11]

Ibn ‘Uyaynah said, 'Scrutiny here means to undergo the evil of a thorough examination such that nothing is leftover’[12]

Ibn Yazid said, ‘The severe reckoning is that which contains no pardoning[13] and the easy reckoning is that in which ones sins are forgiven and good deeds accepted’[14]

All of these narrations show that that servant cannot possibly succeed without forgiveness, mercy and the overlooking of his faults. They also show that when Allah enacts pure justice upon the servant, he will certainly be destroyed.