Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh

 

In the Name of Allah, the All-Merciful, the Mercy-Giving

 

There is no contradiction between the two when understood correctly.

 

Islam teaches us to do works seeking the pleasure of Allah. There is nothing higher than the pleasure of Allah. It encompasses everything.

 

Now when we say that we cannot think highly of ourselves, it is intended to save us from self-righteousness. No matter how great our deeds we do we must never be complacent; we ought to turn to Allah to accept them. See how the Prophets Ibrahim and his son Ismael supplicated to the Lord after finishing building the Ka`bah by order of Allah: “Our Lord! Accept our work, for verily You are the All-Hearing and All-Knowing. And turn towards us in repentance for verily You are the accepter of repentance and the most Merciful.”

 

In conclusion, we ought to seek the pleasure of Allah while doing good deeds; having done so, we must never think that we are perfect. We should instead hope and pray that Allah accepts our good deeds. We must know that we can never be perfect in doing our duties towards Allah whose blessings and favors are beyond our ability to thank Him.

 

That is the lesson the Prophet taught us. When his wife Aishah asked him, “why to torture yourself so much, when Allah has forgiven you all of your past and future sins?, he replied, “If He  has done so, shall I not be a grateful servant?” (Muslim)

 

Almighty Allah knows best.