( وَلِكُلٍّ دَرَجَاتٌ مِّمَّا عَمِلُوا) (And for all are degrees from what they have done): Degrees of deeds. Indeed, a person might elevate or descend in ranks according to his actions, not according to his words. The Prophet (saws) said:

“Verily Allah does not look to your faces and your wealth but He looks to your heart and to your deeds.”[1]

Allah (swt) makes it clear in many verses, that if faith is not followed by good deeds, then it will not be fully recompensed. Allah (swt) says:

وَأَن لَّيْسَ لِلْإِنسَانِ إِلَّا مَا سَعَىٰ(39) وَأَنَّ سَعْيَهُ سَوْفَ يُرَىٰ(40) ثُمَّ يُجْزَاهُ الْجَزَاءَ الْأَوْفَىٰ(41)

(39) And that there is not for man except that [good] for which he strives (40) And that his effort is going to be seen (41) Then he will be recompensed for it with the fullest recompense) (An-Najm: 39-41)

 وَالْعَصْرِ (1) إِنَّ الْإِنسَانَ لَفِي خُسْرٍ (2) إِلَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالْحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالصَّبْرِ (3

((1) By time (2) Indeed, mankind is in loss (3) Except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience) (Al-Asr:1-3)

 إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ يَهْدِيهِمْ رَبُّهُم بِإِيمَانِهِمْ ۖ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهِمُ الْأَنْهَارُ فِي جَنَّاتِ النَّعِيمِ (9) دَعْوَاهُمْ فِيهَا سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَتَحِيَّتُهُمْ فِيهَا سَلَامٌ ۚ وَآخِرُ دَعْوَاهُمْ أَنِ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ (10

((9) Indeed, those who have believed and done righteous deeds – their Lord will guide them because of their faith. Beneath them rivers will flow in the Gardens of Pleasure (10) Their call therein will be, “Exalted are You, O Allah,” and their greeting therein will be, “Peace.” And the last of their call will be, “Praise to Allah, Lord of the worlds!”) (Yunus: 9-10)

 إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ إِنَّا لَا نُضِيعُ أَجْرَ مَنْ أَحْسَنَ عَمَلًا

(Indeed, those who have believed and done righteous deeds – indeed, We will not allow to be lost the reward of any who did well in deeds) (Al-Kahf:30)

Therefore, it is a matter of deeds and behaviors. Islam did not come with flashy speeches, nor did it spread through sermons and speeches on pulpit platforms alone, but it spread through good behavior and manner, through truthfulness, honesty, altruism, and goodness surrounding people because of the teachings of this religion, and also by freeing people from injustice.

Allah (swt) says:

 إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَالْإِحْسَانِ وَإِيتَاءِ ذِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَيَنْهَىٰ عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنكَرِ وَالْبَغْيِ ۚ يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ

(Indeed, Allah orders justice and good conduct and giving to relatives and forbids immorality and bad conduct and oppression. He admonishes you that perhaps you will be reminded) (An-Nahl: 90)

The calling to Allah (swt) is done by following the footsteps of the Prophet (saws) in his excellent behavior, as Allah (swt) says:

 لَّقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ لِّمَن كَانَ يَرْجُو اللَّهَ وَالْيَوْمَ الْآخِرَ وَذَكَرَ اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا

(There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent pattern for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Last Day and [who] remembers Allah often) (Al-Ahzaab: 21)

( وَمَا رَبُّكَ بِغَافِلٍ عَمَّا يَعْمَلُونَ) (And your Lord is not unaware of what they do). Allah (swt) knows all secrets and what is even hidden beyond.

 فَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ خَيْرًا يَرَهُ (7) وَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ شَرًّا يَرَهُ (8)

((7) So whoever does an atom’s weight of good will see it (8) And whoever does an atom’s weight of evil will see it) (Az-Zalzala: 7-8)

[1] Sahih Muslim, The Book of Virtue, Enjoining Good Manners, and Joining of the Ties of Kinship, Hadith No. 2564.