You will come to know that which is done to seek Allah’s Face
In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
Ibn Abd al-Barr stated: It has reached me through Mutarrif Ibn Abdillah al-Nisaburi al-Asam, a companion of Malik, who reported that Malik said to him: “What do people say about my Muwatta?” I said, “People are of two kinds: those who love it and those who envy and slander it”. Malik said, “If you live long enough, you will witness what Allah wants by way of it”.
Al-Mufaddal Ibn Harb, may Allah have mercy upon him, stated: The first to compile Al-Muwatta was Abdul Aziz Ibn Al-Maajishun. He compiled it completely without hadith. Upon seeing it, Malik said: “He has carried out an excellent work. If I were the one to undertake it, I would have started with the narrations, then I would supplement them with discourse”. Malik then resolved to compile a Muwatta himself, leading the scholars of Madina at that time to produce their own versions of the Muwatta. Then it was said to Malik, “You have busied yourself to compile this book while others have also contributed similar works?” He said, “Bring them to me”. After reviewing it, he dismissed them, and said, “You will come to know that which was done to seek Allah’s Face (or Pleasure)”. It is as if those books were thrown into wells (i.e. forgotten later on). [at-Tamhid 1/85-86]
NB: Nothing in this text indicates that the Imam was claiming to know the intentions of other authors of comparable works; rather, what is apparent is that he was merely stating that ultimately, it is Allah who will determine what to give the upper hand through one's intention which is only known to Allah and hoping that Allah brings about great benefits through what he has compiled. One of those means to good outcomes is the strength of one's sincerity and piety. https://salafidawahmanchester.com/2023/04/21/some-reasons-behind-increase-in-reward-on-deeds-and-the-heavy-weight-of-ahlus-sunnahs-deeds/
The Fruits of Patience and Piety
Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy upon him, said: The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, gathered between fear of Allah and good manners because fear of Allah rectifies the [relationship] between a slave and his Lord, and good manners rectifies the [relationship] between a person and Allah’s creation. Fear of Allah makes a person deserving of Allah’s love and good manners brings about the love of the people for him. [Al-Fawa’id. page 89-90 ]
Allah [The Most High] informed us about Yusuf, peace be upon him, and his brothers:
قَالُوا أَإِنَّكَ لَأَنْتَ يُوسُفُ ۖ قَالَ أَنَا يُوسُفُ وَهَٰذَا أَخِي ۖ قَدْ مَنَّ اللَّهُ عَلَيْنَا ۖ إِنَّهُ مَنْ يَتَّقِ وَيَصْبِرْ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُضِيعُ أَجْرَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ
They said: “Are you indeed Yusuf (Joseph)? “He said: I am Yusuf (Joseph), and this is my brother (Benjamin). Allah has indeed been gracious to us. Verily, he who fears Allah and is patient, then surely, Allah makes not the reward of the good-doers to be lost.”
They knew that the one who addressed them was Yusuf, thus, they said: [ أَإِنَّكَ لَأَنْتَ يُوسُف – Are you indeed Yusuf (Joseph)?] He said: [أَنَا يُوسُفُ وَهَٰذَا أَخِي ۖ قَدْ مَنَّ اللَّهُ عَلَيْنَا – I am Yusuf (Joseph), and this is my brother (Benjamin). Allah has indeed been gracious to us]- Meaning: Allah granted us Iman, piety and authority in the worldly life, and that is due to patience and piety. [ۖ إِنَّهُ مَنْ يَتَّقِ وَيَصْبِرْ-Verily, he who fears Allah and is patient]- Meaning: One who keeps away from what Allah has forbidden, exercises patience when facing pain and calamities, and [exercises patience] when carrying out the commandments [of Allah], [فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُضِيعُ أَجْرَ الْمُحْسِنِين – then surely, Allah makes not the reward of the good-doers to be lost]; because that is part of Ihsan [perfection in worship] and Allah makes not the reward of the one who perfects his deeds to be lost. [An Excerpt from Tayseer Al-kareem Ar-Rahmaan Fee Tafseer Kalaam al-Mannaan]