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Author: Amjad Khan

[2] Tawheed, belief in Allaah and His Messengers are the cause of every good in this life and the next

In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy

Imaam Abdul Azeez Bin Baaz (rahimahullaah) said:

Disbelief and sins are the cause of every affliction and evil in this life and the next. As for Tawheed of Allaah, belief in Allaah and His Messengers, obedience to Allaah and His Messengers, holding fast to Allaah’s Sharee’ah and calling to it, and rejecting what is in opposition to it, this is the cause of every good in this life and the hereafter.  And adhering firmly to it, enjoining it and co-operating upon it is the (real) honour in this life and the hereafter, safety from every hated thing and protection from every Fitnah, as Allaah (The Most High) said:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِن تَنصُرُوا اللَّهَ يَنصُرْكُمْ وَيُثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَكُمْ

O you who believe! If you help (in the cause of) Allah, He will help you, and make your foothold firm. 47:7

And Allaah (The Most High) said:

وَلَيَنصُرَنَّ اللَّهُ مَن يَنصُرُهُ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَقَوِيٌّ عَزِيزٌ

الَّذِينَ إِن مَّكَّنَّاهُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ أَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتَوُا الزَّكَاةَ وَأَمَرُوا بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَنَهَوْا عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ ۗ وَلِلَّهِ عَاقِبَةُ الْأُمُورِ

Verily, Allâh will help those who help His (Cause). Truly, Allâh is All-Strong, All-Mighty.  Those (Muslim rulers) who, if We give them power in the land, (they) order for Iqamat-as-Salât. [i.e. to perform the five compulsory congregational Salât (prayers) (the males in mosques)], to pay the Zakât and they enjoin Al-Ma’rûf (i.e. Islâmic Monotheism and all that Islâm orders one to do), and forbid Al-Munkar (i.e. disbelief, polytheism and all that Islâm has forbidden) [i.e. they make the Qur’ân as the law of their country in all the spheres of life]. And with Allâh rests the end of (all) matters (of creatures). 22:40-41

And Allaah (Glorified be He) said:

وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنكُمْ وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ لَيَسْتَخْلِفَنَّهُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ كَمَا اسْتَخْلَفَ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ وَلَيُمَكِّنَنَّ لَهُمْ دِينَهُمُ الَّذِي ارْتَضَىٰ لَهُمْ وَلَيُبَدِّلَنَّهُم مِّن بَعْدِ خَوْفِهِمْ أَمْنًا ۚ يَعْبُدُونَنِي لَا يُشْرِكُونَ بِي شَيْئًا ۚ وَمَن كَفَرَ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ

Allâh has promised those among you who believe, and do righteous good deeds, that He will certainly grant them succession to (the present rulers) in the earth, as He granted it to those before them, and that He will grant them the authority to practice their religion, that which He has chosen for them (i.e. Islâm). And He will surely give them in exchange a safe security after their fear (provided) they (believers) worship Me and do not associate anything (in worship) with Me. But whoever disbelieved after this, they are the Fâsiqûn (rebellious, disobedient to Allâh). 24:55

And Allaah (Glorified be He) said:

وَلَوْ أَنَّ أَهْلَ الْقُرَىٰ آمَنُوا وَاتَّقَوْا لَفَتَحْنَا عَلَيْهِم بَرَكَاتٍ مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَلَٰكِن كَذَّبُوا فَأَخَذْنَاهُم بِمَا كَانُوا يَكْسِبُونَ

And if the people of the towns had believed and had the Taqwâ (piety), certainly, We should have opened for them blessings from the heaven and the earth, but they belied (the Messengers). So We took them (with punishment) for what they used to earn (polytheism and crimes, etc.). 7:96

Allaah (Glorified be He) has made known in many Aayaat that indeed the punishments that befell the previous nations, such as severe punishment by way of floods, winds, and by way of the Saihah (torment), drowning, swallowed by the earth and other than that- all of that was due to their unbelief and sins, as He (The Mighty and Majestic) said:

فَكُلًّا أَخَذْنَا بِذَنبِهِ ۖ فَمِنْهُم مَّنْ أَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِ حَاصِبًا وَمِنْهُم مَّنْ أَخَذَتْهُ الصَّيْحَةُ وَمِنْهُم مَّنْ خَسَفْنَا بِهِ الْأَرْضَ وَمِنْهُم مَّنْ أَغْرَقْنَا ۚ وَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيَظْلِمَهُمْ وَلَٰكِن كَانُوا أَنفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ

So We punished each (of them) for his sins, of them were some on whom We sent Hâsiban (a violent wind with shower of stones) [as the people of Lout (Lot)], and of them were some who were overtaken by As-Saihah [torment  awful cry, etc. (as Thamûd or Shu’aib’s people)], and of them were some whom We caused the earth to swallow [as Qârûn (Korah)], and of them were some whom We drowned [as the people of Nûh (Noah), or Fir’aun (Pharaoh) and his people]. It was not Allâh Who wronged them, but they wronged themselves. 29:40

Allaah (The Most High) said:

وَمَا أَصَابَكُم مِّن مُّصِيبَةٍ فَبِمَا كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِيكُمْ وَيَعْفُو عَن كَثِيرٍ

And whatever of misfortune befalls you, it is because of what your hands have earned. And He pardons much. 42:30

And Allaah (Glorified be He) commanded His slaves to repent to Him and humble themselves to him when calamities occur. He (Glorified be He) said: [يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا تُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ تَوْبَةً نَّصُوحًا عَسَىٰ رَبُّكُمْ أَن يُكَفِّرَ عَنكُمْ سَيِّئَاتِكُمْ وَيُدْخِلَكُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ] O you who believe! Turn to Allâh with sincere repentance! It may be that your Lord will remit from you your sins, and admit you into Gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise) 66:8

Allaah (Glorified be He) said:

وَتُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا أَيُّهَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ

And all of you beg Allâh to forgive you all, O believers, that you may be successful. 24:31

And Allaah (Glorified be He) said:

وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا إِلَىٰ أُمَمٍ مِّن قَبْلِكَ فَأَخَذْنَاهُم بِالْبَأْسَاءِ وَالضَّرَّاءِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَضَرَّعُونَ

فَلَوْلَا إِذْ جَاءَهُم بَأْسُنَا تَضَرَّعُوا وَلَٰكِن قَسَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَزَيَّنَ لَهُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ

Verily, We sent (Messengers) to many nations before you (O Muhammad) And We seized them with extreme poverty (or loss in wealth) and loss in health with calamities so that they might believe with humility.  When Our Torment reached them, why then did they not believe with humility? But their hearts became hardened, and Shaitân (Satan) made fair-seeming to them that which they used to do. 6:42-43

In this noble ayah, Allaah urges His slaves to desire humbling themselves to Him and show their need of Him.  And that they should ask Him for succour when visited with calamities such as illnesses, injuries, killing, earthquakes, hurricanes and other calamities.  This is the meaning of the ayah: [فَلَوْلَا إِذْ جَاءَهُم بَأْسُنَا تَضَرَّعُوا -When Our Torment reached them, why then did they not believe with humility], meaning: why did they not humble themselves when our torment came to them.

Then Allaah (Glorified be He) made known about the hardening of their hearts and shaytaan making fair-seeming to them their evil actions, and that all of this prevented them from repentance, humility and seeking Allaah’s forgiveness.   He (The Most High) said: [وَلَٰكِن قَسَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَزَيَّنَ لَهُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُون – But their hearts became hardened, and Shaitân (Satan) made fairseeming to them that which they used to do. 6:42-43]

And it has been reported about the Rightly Guided Khaleefah (The Chief of the Believers) Umar Bin Abdul Azeez (rahimahullaah), that when an earthquake occurred during his time, he wrote to his governors and commanded them to command the Muslims to repent to Allaah, humble themselves before Him and seek forgiveness for their sins.

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[Source: from a small risaalah of Imaam Bin Baaz (rahimahullaah) titled: ‘Obligation of repenting to Allaah’ Page 3-4’ Abridged and slightly paraphrased]

The Prophet (salal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) called the Ummatud Da’wah to that which is obligatory for today’s Ummatul Ijaabah to call to!

In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy

Shaikh Raslaan (may Allaah preserve him) said:

The Prophet (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) was sent within circumstances concerning which a Muslim cannot say: ”Indeed, the circumstances in which we live in more evil and more deprave in its depravity than (the circumstances in which the Prophet was sent).”   (That is) because the Prophet (salal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) was sent to a disbelieving people and he guided them through one path-to worship one Lord, one God, The Perfect Lord and Master upon Whom all the creation depends and He is self-sufficient, The Unique One in His Names, Attributes and Actions. There is neither another true God (worthy of worship) besides Him nor another true Lord (i.e. the creator, provider and controller of the affairs of the creation) besides Him.

Therefore, the path [of Prophet-salal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam in calling to Allaah in those circumstances] was one, and it is the path that the Messengers brought.  The Prophet (salal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) called the Ummatud Da’wah (i.e. the nation that had not yet accepted the message of Islaam) to that which is obligatory for today’s Ummatul Ijaabah (i.e. the nation that has already accepted the call of Islaam) to call to.

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[Source: For further details see: Mataa Ta’oodu Ilaynaa philisteen’ pages 12-13]

Be pleased with what Allaah has bestowed on you and you’ll attain contentment!

Question:

The questioner asks: How can a person attain contentment with what Allaah has provided for him (or her)?

Answer:
Among those specific (manners) that will enable a person to be contented with what Allaah portioned out for him (or she) is to have Ridaa (i.e. to be pleased with Allaah’s decree and submit to it without any resistance or displeasure) with the livelihood Allaah has portioned out for him (or her). Allaah (Glorified be He and free is He from all imperfections) stated:

نَحْنُ قَسَمْنَا بَيْنَهُم مَّعِيشَتَهُمْ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا ۚ وَرَفَعْنَا بَعْضَهُمْ فَوْقَ بَعْضٍ دَرَجَاتٍ لِّيَتَّخِذَ بَعْضُهُم بَعْضًا سُخْرِيًّا ۗ وَرَحْمَتُ رَبِّكَ خَيْرٌ مِّمَّا يَجْمَعُونَ

It is We Who portion out between them their livelihood in this world, and We raised some of them above others in ranks, so that some may employ others in their work. But the Mercy (Paradise) of your Lord (O Muhammad) is better than the (wealth of this world) which they amass. [43:32]

This (i.e. what is stated in this ayah) enables a person to be contented with what Allaah has portioned out for him (or her). And also because of this Allaah (The Most High) said to His noble Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam):

وَلَا تَمُدَّنَّ عَيْنَيْكَ إِلَىٰ مَا مَتَّعْنَا بِهِ أَزْوَاجًا مِّنْهُمْ زَهْرَةَ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا لِنَفْتِنَهُمْ فِيهِ ۚ وَرِزْقُ رَبِّكَ خَيْرٌ وَأَبْقَىٰ

And strain not your eyes in longing for the things We have given for enjoyment to various groups of them (polytheists and disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah), the splendour of the life of this world that We may test them thereby. But the provision (good reward in the Hereafter) of your Lord is better and more lasting. [20:131]

Abu Hurairah (radiyallaahu-anhu) said that the Messenger of Allaah (salllal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) said: Look to those below you (i.e. compare yourselves to those lesser in status and provision than you etc) and do not look to those above you (i.e. those given higher status or provision more than you). This is more appropriate lest you look down upon Allaah’s favours (upon you). [Reported by Muslim]

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[Source: Fadaa’il Al-A’maal pages 29-30’ by Shaikh Muhammad Bin Abdillaah As-Subayyil (rahimahullaah)]

I don’t understand the meaning of what I recite from the Qur’aan, so will I be rewarded?

Question:

The female questioner asks: Will one be rewarded for reading the Qur’aan even though he (or she) does not know its meaning?

Answer:

Yes he (or she) will be rewarded due to general statement of the Messenger (sallal laahu alayhi wa sallam): Whoever reads the Qur’aan, he will have ten rewards for every letter.’’ Then he (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) said: And I am not saying that “Alif, Laam, Meem” is a letter, rather ‘Alif’ is a letter, ‘Laam’ is a letter and ‘Meem’ is a letter. [Reported by Tirmidhee]

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[Source: Fadaa’il Al-A’maal page 23’ by Shaikh Muhammad Bin Abdillaah As-Subayyil (rahimahullaah)]

Be good to your grandmothers!

The questioner asks: A relative of mine has children and those children neither sit with their grandmother nor do they visit her except occasionally, and the excuse they give is that she is harsh towards them. Her son is the only one who sits with her, so is this (behaviour of her grandchildren) permissible?

Answer: It is obligated on them to sit with her and make her happy because she is their grandmother. She is like their mother, so it is obligated on them to treat her with kindness and this is part of maintaining the ties of kinship. It is obligated on her son to nurture his children on these affairs (i.e. keep the ties of kinship) and to deal kindly and softly with their grandmother. Likewise it is obligated on the grandmother to be gentle towards these children and not to be harsh towards them if what the children say is true. Abdullaah Ibn Amr (radiyallaahu-anhu) said that the Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) said: ”He (or she) is not one of us, who does not respect our elders and is not merciful to our youngsters.” [Reported by Imam Ahmad]

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[Source: Fadaa’il Al- A’maal page 19’ by Shaikh Muhammad Bin Abdillaah As-Subayyil (rahimahullaah)]

You expose yourself to a great danger by being disrespectful to parents

The questioner asks: Indeed he (i.e. this person) had a disagreement with his father about some wealth and this led him to hate his father, shouted at him and refused to sit with him; so is he sinful for boycotting his father, who is now very old and ill?

Answer: What this son has done to his father is Uqooq (disobedience, disrespectfulness and undutifulnes to parents) and it is a major sin among the major sins, and we see Allaah’s protection from it. This son is (exposes) himself to a great danger and it is obligatory upon him to repent to Allaah. He should return to his father in order to make him happy, seek his pardon, seek to please him and honour him. Allaah (The Most High ) said:

وَاعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ وَلَا تُشْرِكُوا بِهِ شَيْئًا ۖ وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا

Worship Allah and join none with Him in worship, and do good to parents..[4:36]

And Allaah (Glorified be He and free is He from all imperfections) said:

وَإِن جَاهَدَاكَ عَلَىٰ أَن تُشْرِكَ بِي مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِ عِلْمٌ فَلَا تُطِعْهُمَا ۖ وَصَاحِبْهُمَا فِي الدُّنْيَا مَعْرُوفًا

But if they (both) strive with you to make you join in worship with Me others that of which you have no knowledge, then obey them not, but behave with them in the world kindly…[31:15]

Good behaviour with parents is required of a person towards non-Muslim parents, then how about if a person’s a parent is a Muslim!

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[Fadaa’il Al-A’maal pages 16-17’ by Shaikh Muhammad Bin Abdillaah As-Subayyil (rahimahullaah). Abridged and slightly paraphrased]

Have you ever heard of this rebellious raafidi devil?!

Imaam Ibn Katheer (rahimahullaah) said: He [Ibnul Mu-izz (411AH)] was a despot and a rebellious devil.

 Some of his ugly characteristics and cursed way of life

There was much instability in his actions, judgements and statements. He claimed Uloohiyyah (i.e. to be deified and worshipped) just as pharaoh did. He used to command the people to stand up in rows to exalt his mention and show respect to his name when his name was mentioned by the khateeb on the pulpit. This was done in all the places under his ruler ship.

He commanded the people of Egypt in particular that they should prostrate when his name is mentioned. And even those people in the markets and those who did not establish the five daily prayers and the Juma’ah Friday prayer used to prostrate when his name was mentioned. They used to abandon prostration for Allaah on Fridays (i.e. they did not attend the Friday prayer) and (the prayer) on other days, but they prostrated to the ruler (i.e. Ibnul Mu-izz).

He used to command the Jews and Christians to embrace Islaam whilst they hated to do so, and thereafter he permitted them to return to their religions. He used to destroy their churches and synagogues and rebuilt them again. Then he would kill them, destroy their churches and synagogues.

He forced the people to close the markets during the day and open them at night. This command was obeyed for a long period until he came across a man -several times- who was engaged in carpentry in the last hours of the day; so he approached him and said: “Have you not been forbidden (i.e. from working during the day)?” He (i.e. the man) said: “O my Sayyid! When the people seek after their livelihoods during the day, they would stay up late during the night (in pursuit of their livelihoods); and when they seek after their livelihoods during the night, they would stay up late during the day (in pursuit of their livelihoods). This this is a part of staying up late.” He (ibnul Mu-zz) laughed and left him, and thereafter he returned the people to their previous affair (i.e. work during the day).

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[Source: For further details, see: Shaikh Muqbil’s (rahimahullaah) Book titled: Ilhaadul Khumeini Fee Ardil Haramayn page: 163-168]

Be good to your relatives even if they are bad to you!

Question:

The questioner asks: We have blood relations who revile us, so is it obligatory that we have to visit them and maintain the ties of kinship?

Answer:

Maintaining the ties of kinship is from the best of deeds due to the saying of the Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam): Whoever would like his provision to be increased and his lifespan to be extended, let him maintain the ties of kinship. [Reported by Bukhari and Muslim from Anas Ibn Maalik (radiyallaahu-anhu]

Abu Hurairah (radiyallaahu-anhu) said: the Prophet (sallal-laahi-alayhi-wasallam) said: The Prophet said: Indeed Ar-Rahim (the womb) derives its root from Ar-Rahmãn (i.e., one of the Names of Allah) and Allah said: ‘I will keep good relation with the one who will keep good relation with you, (womb i.e., kith and kin) and sever the relation with him who will sever the relation with you, (womb, i.e., kith and kin).” [Reported by Bukhaari]

So even if you receive harm or revilement from them, it is still obligated on you to exercise patience in bearing their harm and deal with them kindly, and you’ll obtain a great reward (from Allaah). Abu Hurairah reported that a man said:

Abu Hurairah (radiyallaahu-anhu) said: A man said to the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), “I have relatives with whom I try to keep in touch, but they cut me off. I treat them well, but they abuse me. I am patient and kind towards them, but they insult me.” The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, “If you are as you say, then it is as if you are putting hot dust in their mouths. Allaah will continue to support you as long as you continue to do that.” [Reported by Muslim]

Abdullah Ibn Umar (radiyallaahu-anhu) said that the Prophet (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) said: The one who maintains a relationship with his relatives only because they maintain a relationship with him is not truly upholding the ties of kinship. The one who truly upholds those ties is the one who does so even if they break off the relationship. [Reported by Bukhaari]

This is difficult upon the soul (i.e. a hard thing to bear patiently) but it carries a great reward.

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[Source: Fadaa’il Al- A’maal pages 14-15’ by Shaikh Muhammad Bin Abdillaah As-Subayyil (rahimahullaah)]

How does Sakeenah (tranquillity) descend upon the believers?

Question:

The questioner asks: What is Sakeenah (tranquillity) and how does it descend upon the believers?

Answer:

Sakeenah (tranquillity) is the calmness, relaxation and happiness a person feels inside his heart, and from the means of (experiencing) this Sakeenah and happiness in the heart is when one is constant in the remembrance of Allaah.  Allaah (Glorified be He and free is He from all imperfections) said:

الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ ۗ أَلَا بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوبُ

Those who believe (in the Oneness of Allah – Islamic Monotheism), and whose hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allah, Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest. [13:28]

Ibnul Jawzi (rahimahullaah) said that two statements have been mentioned regarding the word Dhikr; one of them is that Dhikr means the Qur’aan and the second statement is that it means the remembrance of Allaah in general.

And with regards to the meaning of Tu’maneenah (repose or rest) there are two statements: The first one is that it is love of Allah and being completely at ease in His presence. The second meaning is that it is complete submission to Him without harbouring any doubts as opposed to those whose hearts are filled with disgust when Allaah is mentioned.

In summary: Constant remembrance of Allaah (through recitation of) the Qur’aan; remembering Him by uttering Subhaanallaah, Alhamdulil laah, Allaahu Akbar and thanking Him, sending the salaah and salaam upon His Prophet [Muhammad (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam)], constantly repenting to Allaah and seeking His Forgiveness- all these deeds bring about Sakeenah (tranquility) in the heart of the believer. And Allaah knows best.

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[Source: Fadaa’il Al A’maal’ pages 11-12’ by Shaikh Muhammad Bin Abdillaah As-Subayyil (rahimahullaah). Abridged and slightly paraphrased]

Reading the Qur’aan and suddenly getting preoccupied with something else

Question:

The questioner asks: If a person holds the Mushaf to read but then he gets preoccupied with another affair; so he returns after a while to (continue) reading. Is there anything (wrong) with that?

 

Answer:

There is nothing (wrong) with that because this (deed) is a supererogation act of worship.  The performer of a supererogation act of worship is rewarded, but he (or she) is sinful if he (or she) abandons it. Hopefully, the one who has asked this question will be rewarded (in-shaa-Allaah) because he was determined to carry out an act of worship with this intention (i.e. to recite the Qur’aan). Abu Hurairah (radiyallaahu-anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allaah (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) said:

Whoever thinks of doing a good deed then does not do it, Allah will write it down as one complete good deed. If he thinks of doing a good deed and then does it, Allah [may He be glorified and exalted] will write it down between ten and seven hundred fold, or many more. If he thinks of doing a bad deed then he does not do it, Allah will write it down as one complete good deed, and if he thinks of it then does it, Allah will write it down as one bad deed.[Saheeh Muslim 131]

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[Source: Fadaa’il Al A’maal’ page 10 by Shaikh Muhammad Bin Abdillaah As-Subayyil (rahimahullaah)]