Is it true that the virtue of saying "Subhan Allah wa bihamdih" (Glory be to Allah and with His praise) a hundred times is limited to those of virtue and purity in faith, and not to those who persist in their desires and violate Allah's sanctities, as some scholars have transmitted, based on Allah’s saying: "Or do those who commit evil deeds think that We will make them like those who believe and do righteous deeds — equal in their life and their death? How ill-judging is their judgment!" (45:21)? And if that is the case, why did the Hadith not specify a certain category, and how can one determine whether they are among "the people of virtue and faith"?

Ibn Battal related from some scholars that the virtue mentioned in the hadiths is for people of virtue and purity, and not for those who persist in desires and violate religious precepts, citing the verse: "Do those who commit evil deeds think that We will make them like those who believe and do righteous deeds—that their lives and deaths will be equal? How evil is their judgment!" (Quran 45:21). This statement pertains to those who persist in major sins such as arrogance, fornication, and theft without repentance. It denies them the attainment of special virtues related to the effacement of all sins, and it does not apply to every person who commits a misdeed but repents from it.

The majority of scholars hold that the virtues of deeds, such as acts of worship, do not expiate major sins but only minor ones. Some of them stipulated avoiding major sins for the expiation of minor ones, citing the Prophet's (peace be upon him) saying: "The five prayers, and Friday to Friday, and Ramadan to Ramadan, are expiations for what is between them if one avoids major sins."

The summary of this is that the virtues of deeds and the promises of forgiveness are conditioned upon not persisting in disobedience, for persistence prevents forgiveness, and whoever persists in major sins is subject to Allah’s will. A Muslim must combine hope and fear; they should neither despair of Allah’s mercy nor feel secure from Allah’s plan. This is the way of the people of faith.