Does the servant have merit in his obedience?

People vary in merit according to their acts of obedience and the sincerity of their intentions. The one who strives in the way of Allah is the best of people in rank. So, whoever is given wealth and knowledge by Allah and spends it righteously, and whoever is given knowledge but not wealth, yet acts with a sincere intention, they are equal in reward. A servant should not attribute any deed to himself; rather, he should see it as Allah's grace upon him, enabling him to perform righteous deeds. Whatever a servant does, his deeds alone will not save him, but rather it is through Allah's mercy and grace, as Allah Almighty says: "And if not for the favor of Allah upon you and His mercy, not one of you would have been pure ever, but Allah purifies whom He wills."