Effectof Sins
Prophet Muhammad (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: "O
Aishah, abstain from the sins which are looked upon as trivial, for they too
will be inquired about by Allah." [Musnad Ahmad, Nasa'i]
Sins are termed as major or minor essentially because of their gravity in terms of their effects on individuals and society. Thus, some sins are considered most heinous and incur divine wrath. Among such sins are: shirk (associating partners with Allah), displeasing one’s parents, murder, bearing false testimony, adultery, fornication, practicing black magic, devouring riba (interest), stealing from an orphan’s wealth, etc.
Minor sins, on the other hand, are minor in so far as the punishment for a single act of one of these is not as severe as for a major sin. Nevertheless, all sins require tawbah (sincere repentance).
Sincere repentance involves four steps:
The first is for a person to be deeply remorseful of the sin;
Secondly, to refrain from it and all of the circumstances that led to it; thirdly, to make a firm resolution never to do it again;
And finally, to follow it up by whatever good deeds one can possibly do.
Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) says in the Quran, “Verily good deeds wipe out bad deeds.” [Hud: 114]
The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) further explained this by saying: “Allah does not wipe out bad deeds through bad deeds; rather He blots them out through good deeds.”
To repent, one must quit sinful behaviour and also cut oneself off totally and entirely from all associations or circumstances that led him/her to such sins. He/she cannot hope to change for the better without such serious measures. If, instead, one persists in the sin, he/she will end up losing the purity of their heart, their moral conscience.
The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) warned us against the pervasive effects of sins on our souls. He said that when a person commits a sin, it falls like a black dot on the clean slate of his heart. If he repents, the dot is erased. If, however, he persists in the same and continues to sin, the dot continues to expand until it covers his entire heart, in which case his spiritual soul becomes completely sealed off. As a result, he fails to recognize good as good and evil as evil.
The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said that this is what Allah (subhana wa ta'ala) has warned us against in the Quran: “Nay, their hearts have been sealed by the sins they have accumulated.” [Al-Mutaffifeen: 14]
Abdullah bin Mas'ud (radi Allahu anhu) reported Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) as saying: "Beware of minor sins, for they will gather together on man so much so that they will kill him. [Musnad Ahmad]
Sins are termed as major or minor essentially because of their gravity in terms of their effects on individuals and society. Thus, some sins are considered most heinous and incur divine wrath. Among such sins are: shirk (associating partners with Allah), displeasing one’s parents, murder, bearing false testimony, adultery, fornication, practicing black magic, devouring riba (interest), stealing from an orphan’s wealth, etc.
Minor sins, on the other hand, are minor in so far as the punishment for a single act of one of these is not as severe as for a major sin. Nevertheless, all sins require tawbah (sincere repentance).
Sincere repentance involves four steps:
The first is for a person to be deeply remorseful of the sin;
Secondly, to refrain from it and all of the circumstances that led to it; thirdly, to make a firm resolution never to do it again;
And finally, to follow it up by whatever good deeds one can possibly do.
Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) says in the Quran, “Verily good deeds wipe out bad deeds.” [Hud: 114]
The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) further explained this by saying: “Allah does not wipe out bad deeds through bad deeds; rather He blots them out through good deeds.”
To repent, one must quit sinful behaviour and also cut oneself off totally and entirely from all associations or circumstances that led him/her to such sins. He/she cannot hope to change for the better without such serious measures. If, instead, one persists in the sin, he/she will end up losing the purity of their heart, their moral conscience.
The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) warned us against the pervasive effects of sins on our souls. He said that when a person commits a sin, it falls like a black dot on the clean slate of his heart. If he repents, the dot is erased. If, however, he persists in the same and continues to sin, the dot continues to expand until it covers his entire heart, in which case his spiritual soul becomes completely sealed off. As a result, he fails to recognize good as good and evil as evil.
The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said that this is what Allah (subhana wa ta'ala) has warned us against in the Quran: “Nay, their hearts have been sealed by the sins they have accumulated.” [Al-Mutaffifeen: 14]
Abdullah bin Mas'ud (radi Allahu anhu) reported Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) as saying: "Beware of minor sins, for they will gather together on man so much so that they will kill him. [Musnad Ahmad]
Labels: Tazkiyah
Honour
A person who was taken aback by the
honour given to Luqman (alaihis salaam) once approached him and asked: “Are you
the very same Luqman who was a slave of the Banu Has-haas tribe?” Luqman
(alaihis salaam) replied: “Yes!” The man then asked: “Are you the very same
person who used to herd sheep?” Luqman (alaihis salaam) replied: “Yes!” The
person asked yet again: “Are you the very same person with a dark complexion?”
Luqman (alaihis salaam) replied: “My dark complexion is quite visible and clear
to one and all, but what is it that really astonishes you regarding me?” The
man replied: “I am astonished that people flock to your gathering and eagerly
accept your advice.” Luqman (alaihis salaam) then advised him saying: “Young
man! You can also receive this very same rank and honour provided you adhere to
the following aspects:
1. Lower your gaze
2. Control your tongue
3. Eat that which is pure and
halaal
4. Guard your private parts
5. Adhere to the truth
6. Fulfill your trusts
7. Honour your guests
8. Take care of your neighbours
9. Stay away from what does not
concern you
These are the qualities that
elevated me to the position that you see me enjoying.” (Tafseer Ibnu Katheer
vol 3 pg 459)
Lesson: The
above incident highlights the fact that one does not become honourable and
respectable on the basis of his/her lineage or skin colour. Instead it is the
qualities in a person that elevate him/her.
Character
As
Muslims, our character, morals and etiquette should differentiate us from others.
Non-Muslims are not so attentive to our beautiful Salaah, Tilawah, Zikr, and
other Ibaadaat as they are to our character and dealings with others.
Wherever
the Sahabah (RA) went, it was their character which attracted so many, which
often became the focus of attention as well as admiration.
When
Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) invited the Quraysh to
the worship of ONE Allah, he climbed Mount Safa and called out to his
people, calling every family of the Quraysh. When they arrived, he asked them :
‘If I told you that horsemen were advancing to attack you from the valley on
the other side of the hill, would you believe me ?’
Simultaneously
and immediately, they all responded : ‘Yes, we have always found you
honest.’
Nabi
(Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) presented his credentials to them : That that
person who has never spoken a lie for 40 years, do you think he
is going to do so now, in his invitation to the worship of One Allah?
How
many of us can present trustworthiness, honesty and truthfulness as outstanding
traits within us, let alone beautiful speech and beautiful etiquette in our
dealings with people?
This
is one of the main reasons why a large number of non-Muslims remain aloof from
Islam. Our poor character and our poor dealings have become a barrier to them
coming into Islam. It is as if we are standing at the door of Islam, and
keeping them out – or pushing them away. …Have we ever given thought as to how
we are going to answer for this?
Islam
is not only Salaah, Fasting, Hajj and ‘Umrah. …These forms of worship only
make up one branch of Shariah … The person may be fulfilling the rights of
the Creator (Allah Ta’ala) but he is at the same time displeasing Allah Ta’ala
by neglecting and violating the rights of creation (Makhlooq).
There are 5 branches of
Shariah :
§ Aqaa`id
: Beliefs
§ Ibaadaat :
Worship
§ Mu’aamaalaat
: Business transactions and dealings.
§ Mu`aasharaat
: Social dealings
§ Akhlaaq
: Character
Every
Muslim has to make an effort to correct all of these branches for
perfection of Islam. It must not be that any one of us returns to Allah Ta’ala
with plentiful of Ibaadaat, which subsequently accrues to others and is lost to
ourselves.
Hazrat
Abu Hurairah (RA) relates that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) once
asked his companions : ‘Do you know who is a pauper?’
The
Companions replied that a pauper is a person who has no money or property.
Rasulullah
(Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) elucidated the point and said : ‘A pauper
from among my followers (Ummah) is one who will come on the Day of Judgement
with a good record of Salaah (prayers) and Saum (fasting) and Zakaah
(compulsory charity) but also he had abused somebody; slandered someone or
beaten yet another person. Then all the oppressed persons will receive a part
of the aggressor’s good deeds. Should they fall short of his aggression, then
the aggrieved persons’ sins and defaults will be transferred from them to him,
and he will be thrown into the Fire (Hell).’
Hazrat
Abu Hurairah (RA) also related that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam)
said : ‘If any Muslim has oppressed his brother concerning his honour or
anything else, let him obtain his pardon today (in this world) before the time
comes when he will have neither Dinaars nor Dirhams (i.e. he will be
penniless). If the aggressor may have some good deeds (in his account) the same
would be deducted in equal proportion to his wrongs; if the aggressor will have
no good deeds in his account, the wrongs of the aggrieved would be added to the
account of the aggressor in equal proportion.’
I
often say : ‘Pay back HERE, to save your back THERE.’
If
we want safety and salvation, we have to get our deeds in order, and make
amends on our shortcomings HERE, in this worldly life. Otherwise, THERE, on the
Day of Resurrection, there will be great regret and humiliation.
May Allah Ta’ala protect us all.