“What does it profit, my brethren if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”⁣

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This passage is found in the book of James and is highlighting the teachings of Jesus, God’s peace, and blessings upon him.⁣

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I always go back to this verse because some have this notion that they can have all the belief in the world but then neglect to act according to what God calls them to. They think faith is enough.⁣

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However, neither are your deeds.⁣

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Others have this mentality that if they pray all night in Ramadan, if they fast a “perfect” fast then all will be good and they will have the Garden.⁣

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Wrong.⁣

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As you can see here, I was doing some reading during my breaks today. I’m working on C.S. Lewis’ Narnia and Ibn Ata’illah’s Hikam, and there isn’t a better duo.⁣

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As I’m reading about Lewis’ fictitious Christ figure, I’m also reading “from the signs that one relies upon their deeds is a loss of hope when they fall into sin.”⁣

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Isn’t that the truth?⁣

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We don’t rely solely upon our deeds, do you know why?⁣

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𝘉𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘦𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘵𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦. 𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘴𝘬𝘦𝘥, “𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶?”⁣

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𝘏𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮, “𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘮𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘏𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘺.”⁣

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So here I am thinking to myself.⁣

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I need to pray.⁣

I need to fast.⁣

I need to give what little charity that I can.⁣

I need to smile and have the best character.⁣

I need to be loving.⁣

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However, I definitely can’t forget that none of it is enough without the mercy of the Most Merciful.⁣

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May we be granted it. ⁣

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