Abu Hurayra reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "None of you will be saved by his actions?" "Not even you, Messenger of Allah?" they asked. "Not even me," he replied, "unless Allah covers me with mercy from Him. But act correctly and wisely and worship in the morning and evening and during part of the night. Keep to a middle path and you will arrive."
Hadith Commentary: The Primacy of Divine Mercy
This profound narration from Abu Hurayra, recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari, establishes the fundamental Islamic principle that ultimate salvation depends not on the quantity of deeds but on Allah's encompassing mercy. The Prophet's response "Not even me" demonstrates his perfect humility and clarifies that even the most righteous deeds cannot "earn" Paradise without divine grace.
Balance in Worship and Moderate Path
The instruction to "act correctly and wisely" (iqbidū wa qāribū) indicates performing deeds with consistency rather than intensity. Scholars explain this as maintaining moderate, sustainable worship that can be performed regularly without causing burnout or neglect of other responsibilities.
"Worship in the morning and evening and during part of the night" signifies covering all times with remembrance and obedience, while "keep to a middle path" (taqārabū) warns against extremism in either direction - neither negligence nor excessive rigor that leads to abandonment of worship.
Scholarly Interpretation of Arrival
Imam an-Nawawi comments that "you will arrive" means attaining the desired goal of Allah's pleasure and Paradise. Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani explains that the middle path refers to balanced devotion between obligatory and supererogatory acts, avoiding both insufficiency and impractical excess.
This hadith perfectly balances two essential truths: complete dependence on Allah's mercy while simultaneously emphasizing consistent, moderate effort in worship - the means through which Allah's mercy becomes manifest in a believer's life.