Wael Ibrahim – Will Addiction Ever Rule the World

Wael Ibrahim
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The conversation discusses the factors contributing to addiction, including factors like substance use, behavioral addictions, and online addictions. It emphasizes the need for education and sharing information to avoid harms and risks, and encourages sharing videos to avoid addiction. The importance of education and fostering a genuine connection with the community is emphasized, and viewers are encouraged to seek professional help.

AI: Summary ©

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			Warning this video may change how you view
		
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			addiction forever.
		
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			We're about to explore a very controversial question.
		
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			Will addiction ever rule the world?
		
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			The answer might surprise you, especially when we
		
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			consider the full spectrum of addiction in our
		
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			modern time.
		
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			Today we are diving very deep into the
		
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			world of addiction, a topic that affects millions
		
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			globally regardless of their faith, backgrounds or cultures.
		
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			I'm your brother Wael Ibrahim and in the
		
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			next few minutes inshallah we're going to explore
		
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			addiction through the islamic lenses while uncovering scientific
		
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			research that impacts all of us.
		
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			We will cover not just substance addiction but
		
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			also the growing concern of behavioral addictions in
		
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			our digital age.
		
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			So let me throw at you some statistics
		
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			here.
		
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			Studies have shown that addiction with its various
		
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			forms affects 21 percent of adults worldwide and
		
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			that includes not only substance addictions but also
		
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			behavioral addictions like gaming, gambling, social media and
		
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			of course *.
		
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			Now islam, our beautiful religion, recognizes the destructive
		
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			nature of all sorts of addictions, viewing it
		
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			not just as an individual failing but rather
		
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			as a societal issue.
		
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			That's why Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala when
		
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			he addressed addiction in the quran he talked
		
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			to all the believers.
		
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			Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala mentioned O
		
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			you who believe, all of you, most certainly
		
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			intoxicants, anything that clouds the brain, anything that
		
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			controls the mind and that's why one of
		
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			the main objective of sharia, why the religion
		
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			of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala was revealed
		
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			to us is to protect our mind because
		
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			that's the one thing that differentiate between yourself
		
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			as a human being with intellect and animals.
		
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			So Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala is telling
		
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			us anything that intoxicates the brain or get
		
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			control of your very mind as well as
		
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			gambling, fortune telling and so on, all of
		
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			that are satan handy work.
		
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			So abstain from such handy work so that
		
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			you may prosper and become successful and subhanallah
		
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			this holistic approach of the quran aligns with
		
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			today's modern discoveries and scientific research which considers
		
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			biological, psychological and social factors as contributors or
		
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			main contributors for addictive behaviors today.
		
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			But anyway if you are still confused as
		
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			regards to what type of addictions am i
		
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			referring to here is a breakdown for all
		
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			of you for your reference inshallah.
		
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			We have as we mentioned earlier substance addictions
		
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			and underneath can go alcohol, drugs, whether illegal
		
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			drugs or prescribed ones and of course the
		
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			most common ones like nicotine, weed and so
		
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			on so forth.
		
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			Then we have behavioral addictions and comes on
		
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			the top *, super prevalent among youngsters and
		
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			older generations as well.
		
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			Then we have gambling, gaming, social media, online
		
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			shopping and even food and eating disorders.
		
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			While all of the above my brothers, my
		
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			sisters in islam and everyone may seem so
		
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			different from one another, all of them share
		
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			very common neurological pathways in our brain.
		
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			They all with no exception activates the reward
		
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			circuit in our brain by releasing certain chemicals
		
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			like dopamine which get in control of our
		
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			very actions.
		
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			So here's a question for all of us
		
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			to reflect on inshallah.
		
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			Why addictions seem to be like gaining ground
		
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			in our life and here are a few
		
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			reasons for you inshallah.
		
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			Number one the power of technology.
		
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			Smartphones and constant internet access have made potentially
		
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			addictive behaviors more accessible than ever from social
		
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			media to online gambling to hardcore * websites.
		
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			The temptation is just one click away.
		
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			Number two evolving substance availability.
		
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			Beyond traditional drugs we're seeing nowadays new challenges
		
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			like e-cigarettes, vaping and even designer drugs.
		
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			Number three societal stress and disconnection.
		
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			The rising of stress level and social isolation
		
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			have created a fertile ground for all sort
		
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			of addictive behaviors as people may seek escape
		
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			or quick relief through these temporary pleasures.
		
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			Now how our beautiful religion islam have offered
		
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			a unique perspective on combating addiction which could
		
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			be suitable for everyone not necessarily muslims.
		
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			Number one for example community support.
		
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			The concept of one ummah provides a built
		
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			-in support system where everyone is interested about
		
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			the growth and goodness of everyone.
		
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			Number two what is known to so many
		
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			people mindfulness which in islam alhamdulillah it can
		
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			be actualized through prayers, dua, supplications, adhkar to
		
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			constantly remember Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala.
		
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			And number three purpose and meaning.
		
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			We as muslims alhamdulillah we were created for
		
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			a higher purpose than just amusing ourselves on
		
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			the internet or becoming addicted to anything or
		
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			enslaving ourselves to anything.
		
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			Islam emphasizes on the life's greater purpose for
		
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			which Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala have created
		
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			us for and that is to worship Allah
		
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			subhanahu wa ta'ala and to please him
		
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			as much as we can.
		
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			So let's now address the big question.
		
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			Will addiction ever rule the world?
		
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			The short answer my brothers my sisters in
		
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			islam and everyone is yes and no.
		
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			No if we could only take the following
		
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			actions seriously inshallah.
		
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			Number one educate yourself.
		
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			The more you know the more you grow.
		
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			Educate yourselves and others on the harms and
		
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			the risks of both substance and behavioral addictions.
		
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			Number two foster a genuine connection with the
		
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			community.
		
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			Don't ever be alone.
		
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			Don't ever isolate yourself.
		
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			In other words avoid being lonely at all
		
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			costs.
		
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			Be an active member of the community to
		
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			be able to combat addictive behaviors and number
		
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			three love Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala and
		
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			his messenger more than anything in this dunya
		
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			and that will help you avoid this instant
		
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			gratification that you sometimes gain through your addictive
		
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			behavior.
		
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			See my brothers and sisters in islam the
		
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			power to prevent addiction from ruling the world
		
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			lies within each of us whether you're a
		
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			muslim christian an atheist or even anything in
		
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			between.
		
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			Addiction does not really discriminate against anyone.
		
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			We're all in this together so unless you
		
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			take the necessary action that you know will
		
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			bring about goodness in your life and prevent
		
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			you from falling again and again to your
		
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			addictive cycle there's nothing gonna be resolved and
		
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			in that case addiction will definitely rule the
		
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			world and will enslave you to your desires
		
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			instead of enslaving you to Allah subhanahu wa
		
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			ta'ala because at the end of the
		
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			day this is why we were created to
		
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			enslave ourselves to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala.
		
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			We have not Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala
		
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			said I have not created jinn nor mankind
		
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			except to worship me to enslave themselves to
		
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			me to obey me that's why you're here
		
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			you're not born to do * may Allah
		
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			subhanahu wa ta'ala protect us all so
		
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			my brothers my sisters in islam if you
		
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			found that this video is beneficial and can
		
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			help someone out there in this dunya then
		
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			please share it with your circle don't be
		
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			shy don't think that because you're gonna share
		
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			that video people will think that you're addicted
		
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			or something like that but rather wallahi that
		
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			share button could become your savior on the
		
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			day of judgment if someone came across that
		
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			video because of you and as a result
		
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			they freed themselves from the shackle of their
		
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			addictions so be a reason for others to
		
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			be freed inshallah remember every small action counts
		
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			so jazakumullahu khairan for watching and if you
		
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			are someone who's struggling with this compulsive behavior
		
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			to anything whether substance or behaviors then i
		
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			would recommend you to seek a professional help
		
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			may Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala protect us
		
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			all jazakumullahu khairan until next video assalamualaikum warahmatullahi
		
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			wabarakatuh