the same feeble, innovated premises. They then keep pressing the adherent of that view with the logical consequences of his own words until they pull him out of Islam as effortlessly as a hair is drawn from dough. For a good deed calls to another good deed, and an evil deed summons another evil deed, just as the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—said in the rigorously authenticated ḥadīth:

“Adhere to truthfulness, for truthfulness leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to Paradise. A man continues to speak the truth and to pursue truthfulness until he is recorded with God as a man of truth. Beware of lying, for lying leads to depravity, and depravity leads to the Fire. A man continues to lie and to seek out falsehood until he is recorded with God as a liar.”

One of the early generations said: “Part of the reward for a good deed is the good deed that follows it, and part of the punishment for an evil deed is the evil deed that follows it.”