BENEFIT: Were it not for the mercy of Allāh, no one would be admitted into Paradise!

Sheikh Fawzān ḥafidhahullāh relays the following story: "...A man once found himself shipwrecked at sea and sought refuge on a remote island in order to survive. There, Allāh caused a fresh spring to flow for him and made a tree grow that bore fruit for him every morning and evening, from which he ate. Thus, he was able to devote himself entirely to worship. He worshiped Allāh with full dedication, and one day he prayed that Allāh would take his soul while he was in prostration. Allāh accepted his prayer, and he spent the rest of his life on that island in worship, until he finally died while in prostration. When he met Allāh Almighty, Allāh said to him, "Enter Paradise by My mercy." The man replied, "O Lord, and what about my deeds?"—not as an objection to Allāh’s judgment, but rather as an inquiry. He had spent his entire life in worship and wondered why he was entering Paradise by mercy and not by merit of his deeds. Allāh then said to His angels, "Evaluate his deeds." So they did, and they found that all his worship was not equal in value even to the blessing of eyesight—let alone the countless other blessings. Thus, Allāh said, "Enter the Fire." As the man was being led toward Hell, he cried out, "O Lord, let me enter Paradise by Your mercy!" Allāh then said, "Enter Paradise by My mercy." This story reveals that no matter how much a person devotes their life to worship, their deeds can never truly equal even a single one of Allāh's blessings. Therefore, entrance into Paradise is ultimately by Allāh's mercy, not by one's deeds alone."