I said: the secret behind the fear of the believers that their worship might not be accepted is not their fear that Allāh will not fulfill their rewards, for this is contrary to Allāh's promise to them, as in His saying, "As for those who believe and do righteous deeds, He will give them their rewards in full." Rather, He will increase them from His bounty, as He said, "He will give them their rewards in full and increase them from His bounty," and Allāh, the Exalted, "does not break His promise," as He stated in His Book. The secret is that acceptance is related to performing the worship as Allāh commanded, and they cannot be certain that they have performed it as Allāh intended. Rather, they suspect that they have fallen short in this, and for this reason, they fear it might not be accepted from them. Let the believer reflect on this, so that he may increase his diligence in perfecting the worship and performing it as Allāh commanded, which is by sincerity in it for Him, and following His Prophet (ṣallá Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) in his guidance in it. This is the meaning of His saying, "So whoever hopes for the meeting with his Lord, let him do righteous work and not associate anyone in the worship of his Lord."

- "When the Messenger of Allāh (ṣallá Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) traveled a distance of three miles, or three farsakhs (Shuʿbah was uncertain), he shortened the prayer. (In another narration): he prayed two rakʿahs." It was recorded by Imām Aḥmad (3/129) and al-Bayhaqī 3/146, and the context is his, from Muḥammad ibn Jaʿfar, who narrated to us from Shuʿbah from Yaḥyá ibn