The Quran

مَن كانَ يُريدُ العِزَّةَ فَلِلَّهِ العِزَّةُ جَميعًا ۚ إِلَيهِ يَصعَدُ الكَلِمُ الطَّيِّبُ وَالعَمَلُ الصّالِحُ يَرفَعُهُ ۚ وَالَّذينَ يَمكُرونَ السَّيِّئَاتِ لَهُم عَذابٌ شَديدٌ ۖ وَمَكرُ أُولٰئِكَ هُوَ يَبورُ

Ali Unal

Whoever seeks might and glory should know that all might and glory is for God (so let him seek from Him alone). To Him ascends only the pure word (as the source of might and glory), and the good, righteous action (accompanying it) raises it.¹ But those who are devising evil actions, for them there is a severe punishment, and their devising is bound to come to nothing.

The pure word is, first of all, the Declaration of the Divine Oneness, namely, There is no deity but God. Declarations of other pillars of faith and all other pure, truthful words are based on this Word. Without the good, righteous actions that it requires, this declaration remains only an assertion. Only good, righteous actions make it wholly acceptable in God’s sight and cause it to yield pure, wholesome fruit (14: 25). Other pure words and declarations approved by God likewise become acceptable in God’s sight by means of the good actions that are called for. In addition, any assertion or declaration becomes true faith and is established in the heart through the good actions that are required by it.