Faith can’t be accepted without good deeds because it’s not a wishful thinking but rather what is kept firm in the heart and confirmed by deeds. Then, prove your faith; the first proof is to spend out of what the Almighty has given you. Allah (swt) says:

 {لَن تَنَالُوا الْبِرَّ حَتَّىٰ تُنفِقُوا مِمَّا تُحِبُّونَ}

(Never will you attain the good [reward] until you spend [in the way of Allah] from that which you love.) (Aal-Imran: 92)

(… وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتَوُا الزَّكَاةَ …) (…And establish prayer and give Zakah …): Here we have two main pillars of Islam. The first is meant to sustain loyalty to Allah (swt) and is permanent and can’t be dismissed, i.e. the prayers. Zakat, on the other hand, is undue upon the poor; and pilgrimage is a duty for who can afford; and fasting is not due upon the patient. The only exception is the prayers:

 {إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ كَانَتْ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ كِتَابًا مَّوْقُوتًا}

(prayer has been decreed upon the believers a decree of specified times.) (An-Nisaa: 103)

There is no excuse not to perform the prayers, neither an illness nor anything else. If you cannot perform it standing, pray while sitting down. In addition, if you cannot perform it while sitting down, pray while you lie down. Even if you are not able to lie, then perform it with your eyes, and if you cannot with your eyes, the moves of the prayer should cross your mind. Thus, there is no excuse not to perform the prayers in all cases; and it is introductory to all worships.

(… وَآتَوُا الزَّكَاةَ ) (And give Zakah …): Allah (swt) often mentions Zakah and prayers together:

{ وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ}

(And establish prayer and give zakah and obey the Messenger – that you may receive mercy.) (An-Noor: 56)

Prayer is about the connection with the Almighty and sustaining loyalty to Him. Zakat, on the other hand, is a proof of honesty with Allah (swt).

( لَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ … ) (…Will have their reward with their Lord, and there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve): Those who believe, do righteous deeds, establish prayers, and give Zakat for the sake of Allah (swt) will get the reward from Him. Consider this issue here in terms of the Almighty’s parameters not yours; by how much He gives how much you give; and His power, capability, authority, might, possession, and greatness. Attribute what happens to the doer and never look at what happened. Always consider the doer. For example, how much difference is there between ‘a child hit you’ and ‘a boxer hit you.’ Therefore, (will have their reward with their Lord). Allah (swt) reiterates that the rewards are with Him. Moreover, Allah’s power is limitless, and, thus, the reward is according to Him.

(… وَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ …) (…and there will be no fear concerning them): There won’t be any fear concerning them in this world because they have protected their money, cured their patients, and left an inheritance for their children in this world.

( وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ … ) (…nor will they grieve): They won’t grieve in the afterlife. In general, fear is normally of what will happen, while grief is over what happened. Anyway, you won’t be afraid nor grieve as long as you are in Allah (swt)’s custody; how to gain that?  It is when you are one of those who have believed, did righteous deeds, established prayers and paid zakat.