[2] Rewarded Through Responsibility, Not Reputation, Shrewdness or Cleverness

In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

“O My servants, it is but your deeds that I reckon up for you and then recompense you for, so let him who finds good praise Allāh, and let him who finds other than that blame no one but himself.” (1)

In a brief explanation of this part of the hadith, Imam Abdul Aziz Bin Baz, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

ثم بين سبحانه أن الحاصل والخلاصة أنها أعمالهم يحصيها الرب جل وعلا لهم ثم يوفيهم إياها، يعني أجورهم إن كانت طيبة أو عقابهم إن كانت سيئة؛ ولهذا قال: فمن وجد خيرًا فليحمد الله الذي وفقه لطاعته وهداه وأعانه، ومن وجد غير ذلك من وجد أعماله خبيثة توجب النار فلا يلومن إلا نفسه لأنه فرط وأضاع وتساهل وتابع الهوى والشيطان، ولا حول ولا قوة إلا بالله. نعم

Then Allah, Glorified be He, free from all imperfections, made it clear that the outcome and conclusion is that indeed it is their deeds, which the Lord, Majestic and Exalted—records for them, and then He will give them their full recompense if (their deeds were) good, or punished if evil. Due to this, He said: “So let him who finds good praise Allah”, because He (Allah) is the One who blessed the person with the ability to obey Him, guided and helped him. “And let him who finds other than that”, meaning the one who finds his deeds corrupt (wicked) that necessitates (entry into) the Fire, “let him blame no one but himself,” because indeed he was negligent, wasted opportunities, lackadaisical, followed (vain) desires and shaytan. And there is neither power nor might except with Allah.

(1)https://www.nawawis40hadith.com/nw/hadith/24/prohibition-of-oppression

(2)https://binbaz.org.sa/fatwas/17143/%D8%AA%D8%B9%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%81-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%AB-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D8%AF%D8%B3%D9%8A paraphrased