How can one achieve salvation and deliverance from perdition, when it has been said: "All people are lost except the knowledgeable, and all the knowledgeable are lost except those who act [upon their knowledge], and all those who act are lost except the sincere, and the sincere are in great peril"?

This phrase was mentioned by Al-Ghazali in "Ihya' 'Ulum al-Din" in dispraising delusion, and his intention is that the believer's heart should remain attached to Allah Almighty, fearful and apprehensive, not impressed by his own deeds, nor feeling secure from Allah's cunning. Self-admiration is the greatest destroyer, even if one thinks they have escaped by their cleverness. Even after negating self-admiration, the fear of delusion remains due to Allah's favor and trust in His generosity and security from His cunning, making reliance on Allah's favor without fear. The correct approach is for the servant to remain fearful that one of the attributes of his heart might be blocked, or that his spiritual state might be taken away, not feeling secure from Allah's cunning, nor oblivious to the danger of the end. For all people are doomed except the knowledgeable, and all the knowledgeable are doomed except those who act [upon their knowledge], and all those who act are doomed except the sincere, and the sincere are in great peril. Salvation lies in the continuous attachment of the heart to Allah and fear of Him, not feeling secure from His cunning, and not relying on or being impressed by one's deeds.