person is protected from sins. We just heard that when the worshipper felt inclined toward the woman’s invitation to sin, due to his habit of self-accountability, the words immediately came out of his mouth: “O nafs! Fear Allah.” Thereafter, the fear of Allah overwhelmed him and he was saved from committing sin.

Thirdly, we learn that good deeds always come to one’s aid in times of difficulty. In fact, due to the blessings of good deeds, the help of Allah Almighty is found in testing times. When the pious man jumped off the roof to escape from sin, due to divine help, he was saved from death and physical injuries. Indeed, it was the blessing of his good deeds that he received aid.      

Be mindful that Islamic law does not permit suicide. Nevertheless, we should protect ourselves from sins by holding ourselves accountable for our actions, and by performing good deeds abundantly.

A means of blessing in sustenance

The fourth lesson we learn is that whoever avoids sins due to the fear of Allah Almighty, Allah blesses him with sustenance from sources he could never imagine. The holy Quran mentions this point in verses two and three of Surah al-Ṭalāq part 28:

وَ مَنْ یَّتَّقِ اللّٰهَ یَجْعَلْ لَّهٗ مَخْرَجًاۙ(۲) وَّ یَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَیْثُ لَا یَحْتَسِبُؕ

And whosoever fears Allah, He will create a way out for him. And He will grant him sustenance from where he cannot even imagine.^[1]

It is written in Tafsīr Ṣirāt al-Jinān regarding this verse:

The one who fears Allah is being given glad tidings, that Allah Almighty will provide him sustenance from where he would never imagine.^[2]