The letter said...

The letter said: In the name of Allah, Most Merciful From the slave of Allah, Amirul Mu’mineen, ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib, to the people of Egypt and Muhammad ibn Abu Bakr. I convey to you my praise for Allah, other than Whom there is no god. Secondly, I exhort you to adopt the ways of Taqwa, to be mindful of your duties by guarding against all sins and evils, in all matters for which you are answerable to Him, for unto Him is your return.

Surely, Allah, Most High, says (in Qur'an): 'Every soul is a hostage to what it has earned' (74:38 ), and He says: 'Allah warns you to beware of Him, and unto Him is the ultimate return.' (3:28). And He says: 'By your Lord, We shall question them all, regarding what they used to do.' (15:92,93) And know you all, O slaves of Allah! He surely will ask you about all your deeds, small and big. If He punishes we are the wrongdoers, and if He forgives, He is the most Merciful. O slaves of Allah!

When a slave acts for Allah in obedience to Him, he draws nearest to earning His pardon and mercy; and recommends him to penitence. Always adopt Taqwa, be mindful of your duties to Allah by guarding against sins, for that combines all good, the way nothing else does; and leads to the attainment of all good, the way nothing else does, encompassing the good of this world and of hereafter. Allah, Most High, says (in Qur'an*):* 'And it is said to those who fear Allah - what has your Lord revealed?

They say: Something good. To those who do good in this world is the good reward, and the hereafter is surely much better. Blessed indeed is the abode of God-fearing.' (16:30) Know you all, O slaves of Allah! A believer acts to earn the reward for three purposes: either it is for the good of this world. Then Allah rewards him for his deed in his lifetime here. As Allah said for Ibrahim: 'And We gave him his reward in this life, and in the hereafter he shall be among the righteous.' (29:27).

Or he does for Allah, Most High; then He rewards him here and hereafter, and becomes Sufficient for him in both the abodes. Indeed, Allah, Most High has said (in Qur'an): **'** O My servants who have believed, fear your Lord. Those who have been bounteous in this world will have a bounty, and Allah's earth is vast. The steadfast will be paid their wages in full without reckoning.' (39:10) And He will not take account for what He will give them here.

He says: 'To those who do the good deed is the best reward and more.' (10:26).