One of the many benefits of Good Deeds is that they serve as an expiation of our sins.

وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ وَءَامَنُوا۟ بِمَا نُزِّلَ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَهُوَ ٱلْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ ۙ كَفَّرَ عَنْهُمْ سَيِّـَٔاتِهِمْ وَأَصْلَحَ بَالَهُمْ

As for those who believe and do good deeds and believe in what is revealed to Muhammad – the truth from their Rabb – He will remove from them their evils and improve their condition. [Muhammad 47: 02]

Similarly in another verse, Allah says:

وَمَن يُؤْمِنۢ بِٱللَّهِ وَيَعْمَلْ صَـٰلِحًا يُكَفِّرْ عَنْهُ سَيِّـَٔاتِهِۦ وَيُدْخِلْهُ جَنَّـٰتٍ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَآ أَبَدًا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلْفَوْزُ ٱلْعَظِيمُ

Those who believe in Allah and do good deeds, He will remove from them their sins and admit them to gardens beneath which rivers flow, to live therein forever, and that will be the supreme achievement. [At Taghabun 64: 9]

Those who believe in Allah and do good deeds, He will remove from them their sins and admit them to gardens beneath which rivers flow, to live therein forever, and that will be the supreme achievement.

These Noble verses teach us that by performing Good Deeds, Allah will remove our bad deeds and reward us for the good we have done. However, we must remember that it is only the minor sins which are forgiven by the performance of Good Deeds, for the major sins to be given sincere and proper Tawba is required, and Allah Knows Best.

Optimism and Hope from Allah

Beside fear of Allah, expecting good from Him is an act of subline merit.

Abu Hurairah RA has quoted a Prophetic saying:

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِنَّ حُسْنَ الظَّنِّ بِاللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ مِنْ حُسْنِ عِبَادَةِ اللَّهِ

“Verily, thinking well about Allah Almighty is a part of the excellent worship of Allah.” [Musnad Aḥmad]

In a hadith-e-Qudsi our blessed Prophet ﷺ has quoted the Divine words:

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ “‏ قَالَ اللَّهُ أَنَا عِنْدَ ظَنِّ عَبْدِي بِي ‏”‏‏.‏

Narrated Abu Huraira RA: Allah’s Messenger ﷺ said, “Allah said, ‘I am to my slave as he thinks of Me, (i.e. I am able to do for him what he thinks I can do for him). [Bukhari and Muslim]

Many merits have been given in the Holy Qur’an and Hadith for having high hopes from Allah. This implies that one must try to live according to the Divine Commands and when he commits any errors or mistakes, he should expect Divine Mercy for it. But if one is entirely unmindful of the Divine commands, does not care to reform himself, and is driven by worldly and vain desire and yet expects Divine Pardon and Mercy, he has been castigated in the Hadith. The right way is to try to reform oneself and to balance Allah’s fear and good hopes from Him.

Anas RA has related that “Once our Prophet ﷺ went to a young man who was on his death bed and asked him ‘How do you feel?’ The young man said. ‘I have much Hope from Allah but I also fear for my sins’. The Holy Prophet ﷺ said, ‘The believer who has these two ideas simultaneously at such time, Allah fulfils his hopes and grants him security from fear”. [Tirmidhi]