Allah, the Exalted, said:
رياض الصالحينAbū Zakariyyā Muḥyī al-Dīn Yaḥyā ibn Sharaf al-Nawawī٨ - باب في الاستقامة
٨ - باب في الاستقامة
So remain on a right course as you have been commanded, [you] and those who have turned back with you [to Allāh], and do not transgress. Indeed, He is Seeing of what you do.
And He, the Exalted, said:
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوا۟ رَبُّنَا ٱللَّهُ ثُمَّ ٱسْتَقَـٰمُوا۟ تَتَنَزَّلُ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ أَلَّا تَخَافُوا۟ وَلَا تَحْزَنُوا۟ وَأَبْشِرُوا۟ بِٱلْجَنَّةِ ٱلَّتِى كُنتُمْ تُوعَدُونَ
Indeed, those who have said, "Our Lord is Allāh" and then remained on a right course - the angels will descend upon them, [saying], "Do not fear and do not grieve but receive good tidings of Paradise, which you were promised.
وَقالَ تَعَالَى:
And He, the Exalted, said:
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوا۟ رَبُّنَا ٱللَّهُ ثُمَّ ٱسْتَقَـٰمُوا۟ فَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ
Indeed, those who have said, "Our Lord is Allāh," and then remained on a right course - there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve.
وعن أبي عمرو، وقيل: أبي عَمرة سفيان بن عبد الله - ﵁ - قَالَ: قُلْتُ: يَا رَسُول الله، قُلْ لي في الإسْلامِ قَولًا لاَ أَسْأَلُ عَنْهُ أَحَدًا غَيْرَكَ. قَالَ: «قُلْ: آمَنْتُ بِاللهِ، ثُمَّ اسْتَقِمْ». رواه مسلم.
On the authority of Abū ʿAmr — and it is also said Abū ʿAmrah — Sufyān ibn ʿAbd Allah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: I said, “O Messenger of Allah, tell me something about Islam which I will not have to ask anyone about besides you.” He said, “Say: I believe in Allah, and then remain steadfast.” Narrated by Muslim.
وعن أبي هريرةَ - ﵁ - قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُول الله - ﷺ: «قَارِبُوا وَسَدِّدُوا، وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّهُ لَنْ يَنْجُوَ أَحَدٌ مِنْكُمْ بعَمَلِهِ» قالُوا: وَلاَ أَنْتَ يَا رَسُول الله؟ قَالَ: «وَلاَ أنَا إلاَّ أَنْ يَتَغَمَّدَني اللهُ برَحمَةٍ مِنهُ وَفَضْلٍ» رواه مسلم. وَ«المُقَاربَةُ»: القَصدُ الَّذِي لا غُلُوَّ فِيهِ وَلاَ تَقْصيرَ، وَ«السَّدادُ»: الاستقامة والإصابة. وَ«يتَغَمَّدني»: يلبسني ويسترني. قَالَ العلماءُ: مَعنَى الاِسْتِقَامَةِ لُزُومُ طَاعَةِ اللهِ تَعَالَى، قالوا: وهِيَ مِنْ جَوَامِعِ الكَلِم، وَهِيَ نِظَامُ الأُمُورِ؛ وبِاللهِ التَّوفِيقُ.
On the authority of Abū Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Be moderate and keep to what is right, and know that none of you will be saved by his deeds.” They said, “Not even you, O Messenger of Allah?” He said, “Not even I, unless Allah envelops me in mercy and grace from Him.” Narrated by Muslim. “Al-muqārabah” (moderation) is: the middle course in which there is neither excess nor falling short; and “al-sadād” (keeping to what is right) is: uprightness and hitting the mark; and “yataghammadanī” (envelops me) is: He clothes me and covers me. The scholars said: the meaning of steadfastness (istiqāmah) is adhering to obedience to Allah, the Exalted. They said: it is among the comprehensive words, and it is the ordering of all affairs; and with Allah is success.