Principle: Righteous deeds are built upon two things: sincerity and following the Prophet, along with the evidence.
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The Shaykh : Do righteous deeds. What are righteous deeds? The scholars said that a righteous deed is built upon two things: first, sincerity for Allah, and second, following the Messenger of Allah. This is the righteous deed, and its opposite is a defective deed. Whatever is not done with sincerity for Allah is a defective deed, and whatever is not done in accordance with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) is a defective deed. The evidence for this is the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), in what he narrated from his Lord: Sahih Muslim 2985 What is wrong with this?
The student: Sincerity.
The Shaykh : Sincerity. And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sahih Muslim 1718b And in another wording: Sahih Muslim 1718a What is wrong with this?
The student: Following the Prophet.
The Shaykh : Following the Prophet. So, a righteous deed is built upon two things?
The student: Sincerity and intention.
The Shaykh : Sincerity and intention?
The student: Sincerity and following the Prophet.
The Shaykh : Sincerity for Allah and following the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). Well done. May Allah reward you.
Allah the Most High and Exalted said: I am the One, One Who does not stand in need of a partner. If anyone does anything in which he associates anyone else with Me, I shall abandon him with one whom he associates with Allah.
أن الله تعالى قال أنا أغنى الشركاء عن الشرك من عمل عملاً أشرك فيه معي غيري تركته وشركهThe student: Sincerity.
The Shaykh : Sincerity. And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
He who did any act for which there is no sanction from our behalf, that is to be rejected.
من عمل عملا ليس عليه أمرنا فهو ردّ'A'isha reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: He who innovates things in our affairs for which there is no valid (reason) (commits sin) and these are to be rejected.
من أحدث في أمرنا هذا ما ليس منه فهو ردThe student: Following the Prophet.
The Shaykh : Following the Prophet. So, a righteous deed is built upon two things?
The student: Sincerity and intention.
The Shaykh : Sincerity and intention?
The student: Sincerity and following the Prophet.
The Shaykh : Sincerity for Allah and following the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). Well done. May Allah reward you.