Article Surah 92 · Ayah 1
The Effect of Sins on Eliminating Blessings and Bringing Afflictions
The Effect of Sins on Eliminating Blessings and Bringing Afflictions
Anyone who contemplates and thinks deeply about why blessings are withdrawn and afflictions and curses are brought about will certainly realize their causes. Disbelieving in Allah The Almighty and committing numerous sins and crimes as well as being far from the path of Allah The Almighty and being an enemy to His allies and Prophets, may Allah exalt their mention, are among the major reasons behind this.
Allah The Almighty Says (what means):
· {And how many a city was insolent toward the command of its Lord and His messengers, so We took it to severe account and punished it with a terrible punishment. And it tasted the bad consequence of its affair, and the outcome of its affair was loss. Allah has prepared for them a severe punishment; so fear Allah, O you of understanding who have believed.} [Quran 65:8-10]
· {And Allah presents an example: a city which was safe and secure, its provision coming to it in abundance from every location, but it denied the favors of Allah . So Allah made it taste the envelopment of hunger and fear for what they had been doing. And there had certainly come to them a Messenger from among themselves, but they denied him; so punishment overtook them while they were wrongdoers.} [Quran 16:112-113]
· {There was for [the tribe of] Saba’ in their dwelling place a sign: two [fields of] gardens on the right and on the left. [They were told], "Eat from the provisions of your Lord and be grateful to Him. A good land [have you], and a forgiving Lord." But they turned away [refusing], so We sent upon them the flood of the dam, and We replaced their two [fields of] gardens with gardens of bitter fruit, tamarisks and something of sparse lote trees. [By] that We repaid them because they disbelieved. And do We [thus] repay except the ungrateful?} [Quran 36:15-17]
As for the people of Nooh (Noah), Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {And the people of Nooh - when they denied the messengers, We drowned them, and We made them for mankind a sign. And We have prepared for the wrongdoers a painful punishment.} [Quran 25:37]
As for the people of ‘Aad, the likes of whom had never been created in the land, Allah The Almighty granted them huge and healthy bodies, and great sustenance, but they were arrogant. What was the consequence of what they did? Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {As for ‘Aad, they were arrogant upon the earth without right and said, "Who is greater than us in strength?" Did they not consider that Allah who created them was greater than them in strength? But they were rejecting Our signs. So We sent upon them a screaming wind during days of misfortune to make them taste the punishment of disgrace in the worldly life; but the punishment of the Hereafter is more disgracing, and they will not be helped.} [Quran 41:15-16]
Allah The Almighty sent them a barren wind. Allah The Almighty Says (what means):
· {And in ‘Aad [was a sign], when We sent against them the barren wind. It left nothing of what it came upon but that it made it like disintegrated ruins.} [Quran 51: 41-42]
· {And as for ‘Aad, they were destroyed by a screaming, violent wind. Which Allah imposed upon them for seven nights and eight days in succession, so you would see the people therein fallen as if they were hollow trunks of palm trees.} [Quran 69:6-7]
Thamood, who carved out the rocks in the valley and to whom Allah showed the right path, preferred blindness over guidance. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {And as for Thamood, We guided them, but they preferred blindness over guidance, so the thunderbolt of humiliating punishment seized them for what they used to earn.} [Quran 41:17]
Allah The Almighty sent them Prophet Saalih, may Allah exalt his mention, and the she-camel; that used to drink one day and they used to drink its milk the other day, but they killed it and denied the bounties of Allah The Almighty. They disbelieved Prophet Saalih, may Allah exalt his mention, and the most wretched of them was sent forth and killed her, so Allah The Almighty destroyed them. Allah The Almighty Says (what means):{When the most wretched of them was sent forth. And the Messenger of Allah [Saalih] said to them, "[Do not harm] the she-camel of Allah or [prevent her from] her drink." But they denied him and hamstrung her. So their Lord brought down upon them destruction for their sin and made it equal [upon all of them]. And He does not fear the consequence thereof.}[Quran 91:12-14]
About Pharaoh, owner of the stakes, who increased corruption, Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {And increased therein the corruption. So your Lord poured upon them a scourge of punishment.} [Quran 89:12-13]
Pharaoh transgressed and wronged people despite the fact that he had the kingdom of Egypt and rivers were flowing beneath him. He enjoyed having treasures and an honorable station, but he and his soldiers were arrogant in the land, without right, so what happened to them?
He was arrogant with the Prophets and said what Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {"O my people, does not the kingdom of Egypt belong to me, and these rivers flowing beneath me; then do you not see? Or am I [not] better than this one who is insignificant and hardly makes himself clear?} [Quran 43:51-52]
The Almighty also Says:
· {And said, "I am your most exalted Lord."} [Quran 79:24]
· {And Pharaoh said, "O eminent ones, I have not known you to have a god other than me.} [Quran 28:38]
He strove throughout the land to cause corruption therein and destroy crops and animals. He slaughtered children, expelled men and kept women alive in order to use them. What happened to him after all this denial and stubbornness? Allah The Almighty Says (what means):
· {And there certainly came to the people of Pharaoh warning. They denied Our signs, all of them, so We seized them with a seizure of one exalted in might and perfect in ability.} [Quran 54:41-42]
· {And there came Pharaoh and those before him and the overturned cities with sin. And they disobeyed the Messenger of their Lord, so He seized them with a seizure exceeding [in severity].} [Quran 69:9-10]
· {So We removed them from gardens and springs. And treasures and honorable station.} [Quran 26:57-58]
This is the consequence of oppression, denial and disbelief. This applies at the level of nations as there are nations that were totally destroyed and their blessings turned to be curses. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {So each We seized for his sin; and among them were those upon whom We sent a storm of stones, and among them were those who were seized by the blast [from the sky], and among them were those whom We caused the earth to swallow, and among them were those whom We drowned. And Allah would not have wronged them, but it was they who were wronging themselves.} [Quran 29:40]
This also applies at the level of individuals and groups.
The owners of the orchard had evil intentions and swore to cut its fruit in the [early] morning without exception. They made a plan to refrain from giving the poor and the needy their right. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {So there came upon the garden an affliction from your Lord while they were asleep. And it became as though reaped.} [Quran 68:19-20]
Another example is Qaaroon, the arrogant and oppressive man whom Allah The Almighty gave such treasures whose keys would burden a band of strong men, but he was not grateful and he oppressed his people.
Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {Indeed, Qaaroon was from the people of Moosa (Moses), but he tyrannized them. And We gave him of treasures whose keys would burden a band of strong men; thereupon his people said to him, "Do not exult. Indeed, Allah does not like the exultant. But seek, through that which Allah has given you, the home of the Hereafter; and [yet], do not forget your share of the world. And do good as Allah has done good to you. And desire not corruption in the land. Indeed, Allah does not like corrupters." He said, "I was only given it because of knowledge I have." Did he not know that Allah had destroyed before him of generations those who were greater than him in power and greater in accumulation [of wealth]? But the criminals, about their sins, will not be asked. So he came out before his people in his adornment. Those who desired the worldly life said, "Oh, would that we had like what was given to Qaaroon. Indeed, he is one of great fortune." But those who had been given knowledge said, "Woe to you! The reward of Allah is better for he who believes and does righteousness. And none are granted it except the patient." And We caused the earth to swallow him and his home. And there was for him no company to aid him other than Allah, nor was he of those who [could] defend themselves.} [Quran 28:76-81]
Satan was expelled from Paradise because of his disobedience and refusal to prostrate to Aadam, may Allah exalt his mention. Allah The Almighty Says (what means):
· {[Allah] said, "Get out of Paradise, reproached and expelled. Whoever follows you among them - I will surely fill Hell with you, all together."} [Quran 7:18]
· {[Allah] said, "Descend from Paradise, for it is not for you to be arrogant therein.} [Quran 7:13]
· {So get out; indeed, you are of the debased.} [Quran 7:13]
These are the consequences of oppression, evil doing and corruption. Allah The Almighty Says (what means):
· {so Allah seized them for their sins.}[Quran 40:21]
· {so Allah seized them for their sins.}[Quran 8:54]
· {So they were struck by the evil consequences of what they did.}[Quran 16:34]
· {And when they angered Us, We took retribution from them and drowned them all. And We made them a precedent and an example for the later peoples.}[Quran 43:55-56]
· {"Indeed, we will destroy the people of that Lot's city. Indeed, its people have been wrongdoers."}[Quran 29:31]
· {Then the end of those who did evil was the worst [consequence] because they denied the signs of Allah and used to ridicule them.} [Quran 30:10]
· {[By] that We repaid them for their injustice. And indeed, We are truthful.}[Quran 6:146]
· {And We had already destroyed generations before you when they wronged, and their messengers had come to them with clear proofs, but they were not to believe.} [Quran 10:13]
· {But they turned away [refusing], so We sent upon them the flood of the dam,}[Quran 34:16]
· {But they denied him and hamstrung her. So their Lord brought down upon them destruction for their sin and made it equal [upon all of them].} [Quran 91:14]
· {And whatever strikes you of disaster - it is for what your hands have earned; but He pardons much.}[Quran 42:30]
Sins lead to weak memory and ways to strengthen memory
In the Name of Allâh, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
It is human nature to be forgetful, as the Arab poet said:
“He is only called man (insaan) because of his forgetfulness (nasiyaan), and it is only called the heart (al-qalb) because it changes so rapidly (yataqallib).”
In the past they said that the first one to forget (awwal naasin) was the first man (awwal al-naas), meaning Adam, peace be upon him. Forgetfulness is something that varies from person to person according to each individual’s nature; some may be more forgetful than others. Some of the things that may help to combat forgetfulness are the following:
1. Keeping away from sin, because the bad effects of sin result in a bad memory and the inability to retain knowledge. The darkness of sin cannot co-exist with the light of knowledge. The following words were attributed to al-Shaafi‘ee, may Allah have mercy on him:
“I complained to [my shaykh] Wakee’ about my bad memory, and he taught me that I should keep away from sin. He said that knowledge of Allah is light, and the light of Allah is not given to the sinner.”
Al-Khateeb reported in al-Jaami‘ (2/387) that Yahya ibn Yahya said: “A man asked Maalik ibn Anas, ‘O Abu ‘Abd-Allah! Is there anything that will improve my memory?’ He said, ‘If anything will improve it, it is giving up sin.’”
When a person commits a sin, it overwhelms him and this leads to anxiety and sorrow which keeps him busy thinking about what he has done. This dulls his senses and distracts him from many beneficial things, including seeking knowledge.
2. Frequently remembering Allah, may He be glorified, by reciting dhikr, tasbeeh (saying ‘Subhan Allah’), tahmeed (‘Al-hamdu Lillaah’), tahleel (‘Laa ilaaha ill-Allah’) and takbeer (‘Allahu akbar’), etc. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): “…And remember your Lord when you forget…” [Qur’an al-Kahf 18:24]
3. Not eating too much, because eating too much makes one sleep too much and become lazy, and it dulls the senses, besides exposing one to the risk of physical diseases. Most of the diseases which we see result from food and drink.
4. Some of the scholars have mentioned certain foods which increase the memory, such as drinking honey and eating raisins and chewing certain kinds of gum resin.
Imaam al-Zuhree said: “You should eat honey because it is good for the memory.”
He also said: “Whoever wants to memorize hadeeth should eat raisins.” (From al-Jaami‘ by al-Khateeb, 2/394)
Ibraaheem ibn [sth. omitted] said, “You should chew resin gum, because it gives energy to the heart and gets rid of forgetfulness.” (From al-Jaami‘ by al-Khateeb, 2/397)
As they mentioned, too much acidic food is one of the causes of laziness and weak memory.
5. Another thing that can help the memory and reduce forgetfulness is cupping (hijaamah) of the head, as is well known from experience. (For more information see Al-Tibb al-Nabawi by Ibn al-Qayyim). And Allah knows best.
[ From missionislam.com ]
The Effects of Sins (by Ibn al-Qayyim)
ONE. The Prevention of Knowledge: Knowledge is a light which Allaah throws into the heart and disobedience extinguishes this light.
Imaam Shaafi'ee said:
I complained to Wakee' about the weakness of my memory
So he ordered me to abandon disobedience
And informed me that the knowledge is light
And that the light of Allaah is not given to the disobedient
TWO. The Prevention of Sustenance: Just as Taqwaa brings about sustenance, the abandonment of Taqwaa causes poverty. There is nothing which can bring about sustenance like the abandonment of disobedience
THREE. The prevention of obedience (to Allaah). If there was no other punishment for sin other than that it prevents one from obedience to Allaah then this would be sufficient.
FOUR. Disobedience weakens the heart and the body. Its weakening the heart is something which is clear. Disobedience does not stop weakening it until the life of the heart ceases completely.
FIVE. Disobedience reduces the lifespan and destroys any blessings. Just as righteousness increases the lifespan, sinning reduces it.
SIX. Disobedience sows its own seeds and gives birth to itself until separating from it and coming out of it becomes difficult for the servant.
SEVEN. Sins weaken the hearts will and resolve so that the desire for disobedience becomes strong and the desire to repent becomes weak bit by bit until the desire to repent is removed from the heart completely.
EIGHT. Every type of disobedience is a legacy of a nation from among the nations which Allaah Azzawajall destroyed. Sodomy is a legacy of the People of Lot, taking more than one's due right and giving what is less is a legacy of the People of Shu'ayb, seeking greatness in the land and causing corruption is a legacy of the People of Pharoah and pride/arrogance and tyranny is a legacy of the People of Hud. So the disobedient one is wearing the gown of some of these nations who were the enemies of Allaah.
NINE. Disobedience is a cause of the servant being held in contempt by his Lord. Al-Hasan al-Basree (rh) said: They became contemptible in (His sight) so they disobeyed Him. If they were honourable (in His sight) He would have protected them. Allah the Exalted said:
And whomsoever Allaah lowers (humiliates) there is none to give honour. [Hajj 22:18]
TEN. The ill-effects of the sinner fall upon those besides him and also the animals as a result of which they are touched by harm.
ELEVEN. The servant continues to commit sins until they become very easy for him and seem insignificant in his heart and this is a sign of destruction. Every time a sin becomes insignificant in the sight of the servant it becomes great in the sight of Allaah.
Ibn Mas'ood (ra) said: Indeed, the believer sees his sins as if he was standing at the foot of a mountain fearing that it will fall upon him and the sinner sees his sins like a fly which passes by his nose so he tries to remove it by waving his hand around. [Bukhaaree]
TWELVE. Disobedience inherits humiliation and lowliness. Honour, all of it, lies in the obedience of Allaah. Abdullaah ibn al-Mubaarak said:
I have seen sins kill the hearts
And humiliation is inherited by their continuity
The abandonment of sins gives life to the hearts
And the prevention of your soul is better for it
THIRTEEN. Disobedience corrupts the intellect. The intellect has light and disobedience extinguishes this light. When the light of the intellect is extinguished it becomes weak and deficient.
FOURTEEN. When disobedience increases, the servant's heart becomes sealed so that he becomes of those who are heedless. The Exalted said:
But no! A stain has been left on their hearts on account of what they used to earn (i.e. their actions) [Mutaffifeen 83:14]
FIFTEEN. Sins cause the various types of corruption to occur in the land. Corruption of the waters, the air, the plants, the fruits and the dwelling places. The Exalted said:
Mischief has appeared on the land and the sea on account of what the hands of men have earned; that He may give them a taste of some of (the actions) they have done, in order that they may return. [Rum 30:41]
SIXTEEN. The disappearance of modesty which is the essence of the life of the heart and is the basis of every good. Its disappearance is the disappearance of all that is good. It is authentic from the Messenger (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) that he said: Modesty is goodness, all of it [Bukhaaree and Muslim] A Poet said:
And by Allaah, there is no good in life Or in the world when modesty goes
SEVENTEEN. Sins weaken and reduce the magnification of Allaah, the Mighty in the heart of the servant
EIGHTEEN. Sins are the cause of Allaah forgetting His servant, abandoning him and leaving him to fend for himself with his soul and his shaytaan and in this is the destruction from which no deliverance can be hoped for.
NINETEEN. Sins remove the servant from the realm of Ihsaan (doing good) and he is prevented from (obtaining) the reward of those who do good. When Ihsaan fills the heart it prevents it from disobedience.
TWENTY. Disobedience causes the favours (of Allaah) to cease and make His revenge lawful. No blessing ceases to reach a servant except due to a sin and no retribution is made lawful upon him except due to a sin. Alee (ra) said: No trial has descended except due to a sin and it (the trial) is not repelled except by repentance. Allaah the Exalted said:
Whatever misfortune afflicts you then it is due to what your hands have earned and (yet) He pardons many [Shura 42:30]
And the Exalted also said:
That is because never will Allaah change the favour He has bestowed on a people until they change what is with themselves [Anfaal 8:53]
.لا نريد زعيما يخاف البيت الإبيض
نريد زعيما يخاف الواحد الأحد
دولة الإسلامية باقية
Reference Link
THE EFFECTS OF SINS: EVIL UPON LAND AND SEA
Bismillah
Have you ever wondered why there is so much evil on the earth? Why are there so many environmental problems, so many wars, so many famines and sickness?
It’s because of you. Yes, you. And me, and the rest of man.
Many times when we are struck with a trial or calamity, our first reaction is the thought: “why me?!” Yet the sad fact is that we do not realize these trials are a result of what our own hands have reaped.
Allah azza wa jal says in a monumental ayah for our times:
ظَهَرَ الْفَسَادُ فِي الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِي النَّاسِ لِيُذِيقَهُمْ بَعْضَ الَّذِي عَمِلُوا لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ
Evil has appeared on land and sea because of what the hands of men have earned, that He (Allah) may make them taste a part of that which they have done, in order that they may return.(30:41)
Allah ta’ala says ‘fasaad’ has become apparent. Fasaad means an imbalance and is the opposite of ‘islaah’ (reformation). Fasaad is when something decays, spoils and it is not as it should be. There are two types of fasaad: tangible evil such as famine, drought, wars and intangible such as bad manners and doing shirk.
This ayah does not only state that evil has appeared on the land, but it includes the land and sea. On the land, there is physical land pollution, drought, earthquakes and vegetation is scarce. There is also an imbalance in the people of the land. Such fasaad is also evident in the sea: the water is polluted, and certain species that live within it are nearing extinction.
How is it that we are the cause of this fasaad? Allah ta’ala says:
بِمَا كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِي النَّاسِ
because of what the hands of men have reaped.
The “ba” in the beginning is known as the ‘ba of reason’ or ‘ba of causation’, showing that it is through continuous sinning without repentance, disbelief in Allah and corruption that fasaad has appeared. Abu Al-‘Aliyah said: “Whoever disobeys Allah in the earth has corrupted it, because the good condition of the earth and the heavens depends on obedience to Allah.”
Allah ta’ala only mentions the hands of men because most of our deeds are done by our hands and our hands represent action.
This fasaad has appeared:
لِيُذِيقَهُمْ بَعْضَ الَّذِي عَمِلُوا
that He (Allah) may make them taste a part of that which they have done.
The ‘laam’ here is known as ‘laam of ‘illah’, of reason. The reason for the appearance of evil is so that we are made to taste and experience what our own hands have reaped.
An interesting part of this ayah is the word بَعْضَba’dha, which means “some” of the consequences. The fasaad on the earth is not a complete retribution of what people have done, rather Allah ta’ala only gives us a taste of the consequence in this dunya. Imagine, everything that is going on around us is only some of what man has done!
May Allah have mercy on Imam Sa’di who said in his tafseer of this ayah:
Then how Exalted and Glorified is Allah! He blessed through His trials and favored by His end results, and if He made the people taste the full consequence of what they earned, not even one creature would remain on the earth.
Allah azza wa jal then ends the ayah,
لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ
in order that they may return.
SubhanAllah, the reason as to why there is fasaad upon this earth is so that we may return to Allah azza wa jal: from wrong actions to right actions, from disobedience to obedience, from imbalance to the balance of the earth.
Islaah, reformation, is a part of tawbah. Allah ta’ala says:
إِلَّا الَّذِينَ تَابُوا وَأَصْلَحُوا
Except those who repent, and do islaah: reformation to good. (4:146)
Take these signs around us as a blessing; how Merciful is Allah to let us see what our own hands have reaped so that we may repent! Turn back to Allah and ask for His Forgiveness before it’s too late.
Shaykh ibn al-Uthaymeen rahimahullah beautifully said:
“By Allah, sins affect the security of a land; they affect its ease, its prosperity, its economy; and they affect the hearts of its people. Sins cause alienation between people. Sins cause one Muslim to regard his Muslim brother as if he were upon a religion other than Islam.
But if we sought to rectify ourselves, our families, our neighbors, and those in our areas, and everyone we are able to rectify, if we mutually encourage good and forbid evil, if we assisted those who do this with wisdom and wise admonition- then it would produce unity and harmony”
The ill Effects of Sin : Shaykh al-‘Uthaymeen
It was a khutbah given by him on the 12th of Muharram 1411AH which was published in Arabic and translated to English.
Translated by – Aboo Talhah Daawood ibn Ronald Burbank
All praise is for Allaah, in whose Hand is the dominion of the heavens and the earth. Sovereignty is His, all praise is for Him, and He is a witness of everything. All His prescribed laws and what He has decreed are from His Wisdom. He does whatever He wills and commands whatever He wishes. I testify that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah alone, having no partner, the Guardian, the One Worthy of all Praise. I testify that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger, the last of the prophets and their leader and the best of worshippers; may Allaah extol and send complete peace upon his family, his Companions and those who follow them in goodness till the Day of Judgement.
To proceed…
Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, says, explaining His complete Power, and perfect Wisdom, that what He alone orders is what happens, and that He is the one governing and controlling His servants – granting security, fear, ease, hardship, facility, difficulty, straightened circumstances and prosperity… Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, says:
Whosoever is in the heavens and on earth begs of Him. Every day He has a matter to bring forth (such as giving honour to some, disgrace to some, life to some, death to some etc)!”
(Soorah ar-Rahmaan (55): 29)
So Allaah, the Most High, controls the affairs of His creation enforcing His rulings sometimes according to His Wisdom and Beneficience, and sometimes according to His Wisdom and Justice, and your Lord never treats anyone unjustly:
“We wronged them not, but they were wrong-doers.”
(Soorah az-Zukhruf (42): 76)
O Muslims:
Indeed we believe in Allaah and His predecree (Qadr), and belief in Allaah’s predecree is one of the pillars of eemaan.
(Eemaan is belief in the heart, saying of the tongue and action of the limbs.)
We believe that whatever good or state of ease and security comes upon us then it is from Allaah’s blessings upon us and it is an obligation upon us that we give praise and tahnks to the One who granted and provided that for us. This is done by returning to obedience to Him, avoiding whatever He forbade and doing whatever He ordered. If we carry out our duty of obedience to Allaah then we will be giving thanks for His blessings and would then deserve the increase in these blessings which Allaah has promised us from His bounty.
Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, says:
“And whatever of the blessings and good things you have, it is from Allaah.”
(Soorah an-Nahl (16):53)
and He, the Most High says:
“And (remember) when your Lord proclaimed: ‘If you give thanks, I will give you more (of My blessings), but if you are thankless, verily My punishment is indeed severe.'”
(Soorah Ibraaheem (14):7)
O Muslims:
Alhamdu’Lillaah (All Praise and thanks are for Allaah), we live in this land in a state of security and ease, but this state of security and ease cannot continue except through obedience to Allaah. As long as we order good and forbid evil, as long as we cooperate in ordering good and forbidding evil, since those who order good and forbid evil are at the forefront of the Ummah (Nation, the Muslims as a group), and they repel the causes of punishment and chastisement, so we should assist them and be with them. If they err we should inform them of their mistake and warn them about it and lead them to the guidance and not let their mistake become a reason to remove and distance them from this responsibility – that is not the correct way…
O Muslims:
Whatever harm and hardship has befallen the people in their wealth or security, individuals or societies is due to their sins and their having neglected the commands of Allaah and his prescribed laws, and their seeking judgement amongst the people by other than the prescribed laws of Allaah – who created all of creation and was more merciful to them than their mothers and fathers, and He is the One who knows better than themselves what is most beneficial for them.
O Muslims:
I repeat this sentence because of its importance and because many of the people turn away from it:
I say (meaning the Shaykh): whatever harm and hardship has befallen the people in their wealth or security, individuals or societies is due to their sins and their having neglected the commands of Allaah and his prescribed laws, and their seeking judgement amongst the people by other than the prescribed laws of Allaah – who created all of creation and was more merciful to them than their mothers and fathers, and He is the One who knows better than themselves what is most beneficial for them.
Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, says, explaining that in His Book, so that we may realise and take warning.
He, the Majestic and Most High, says:
“And whatever of misfortune befalls you, it is because of what your hands have earned. And He pardons much.”
(Soorah ash-Shoora (42):30)
“Whatever of good reaches you, is from Allaah, but whatever of evil befalls you, is from yourself.”
(Soorah an-Nisaa’ (4):79)
Whatever good comes upon us – blessings or security – it is from Allaah, it is He who provided that, its beginning and end, from His beneficience. It is He who granted us from His bounty that we should carry out what which would lead to it, and it is He who granted us His blessings and completed that for us…
As for whatever evil has befallen us, whether famine or fear, or whatever else causes harm, then it is due to our ownselves, we are the ones who have wronged ourselves and led ourselves to destruction.
O people:
Many people today attribute the misfortunes which befall them, whether relating to wealth and economics, or security and political affairs to purely materialistic causes, to political causes, economic reasons, or problems due to borders. There is no doubt that this is due to their limited understanding and weakness of their eemaan and their failure to reflect upon the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of His Messenger صلى الله عليه و سلم.
O Muslims, Believers in Allaah and His Messenger صلى الله عليه و سلم
Behind these reasons are causes prescribed as such by Allaah, reasons and causes for these misfortunes which are stronger, greater and produce a more severe effect than the material reasons. However the material reasons may be a means of bringing about what is due to the causes prescribed by Allaah which necessitates the misfortune and punishment.
Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic says:
“Evil (sins and disobedience of Allaah etc.) has appeared on the land and sea because of what the hands of men have earned (by oppression and evil deeds etc.), that Allaah may make them taste a part of that which they have done, in order that they may return (by repenting to Allaah).”
Soorah ar-Room (30):41
O people, O Muslims, O nation of Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم:
Give thanks for the blessings of Allaah upon you which you are about to hear of. O nation of Muhammd صلى الله عليه و سلم you are the best and most noble of the nations of Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic. Allaah does not punish this nation for its disobedience and sins in the way that He punished the previous nations. He will not cause its destruction with a single overwhelming punishment as happened to ‘Aad (See Soorah al-Haaqqah (69):6-7), when they were destroyed by the violent wind which He unleashed upon them for seven nights and eight days in succession so that they were left lying like the hollow trunks of palm trees – do you see any remnants of them? He will not destroy it with the like of the punishment of Thamood (See Soorah al-Haaqqah (69):5) who were seized by the terrible shout and the earthquake so that they lay prostrate corpses in their homes. And He will not destroy it with the like of the punishment of the people of Loot (See Soorah al-A’raaf (7):80-84), against whom Allaah sent a violent wind and stones from the sky and turned their homes upside down.
O Muslims:
Allaah, from His Wisdom and His Mercy, punishes this nation for its sins and disobedience by setting some part of it upon the others so that they destroy one another and take each other prisoner. Allaah, the Might and Majestic, says:
“Say: ‘He was power to send torment on you from above you or from under your feet, or to cover you with confusion in party strife, and make you to taste the violence of one another.’ See how variously We explain the Ayaat, (Aayaat, sing. aayaah: proofs; signs; evidences; lessons; ‘verses’), so that they may understand.
But your people (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم) have denied it (the Qur’aan) though it is the Truth. Say: ‘I am not responsible for your affairs.’ For every news there is a fact (i.e. for everthing there is an appointed term and you will come to know).”
(Soorah al-An’aam (6):65-66)
Al-Haafidh Ibn Katheer quotes a number of ahaadeeth – (ahaadeeth, sing. hadeeth: Sayings narrated from the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم, regarding his words, actions or attributes – in his Tafseer of the first aayah. From these is that reported by al-Bukhaaree from Jaabir ibn ‘Adbullaah (radhiyAllaahu ‘anhumaa) who said:
“When the (following) aayah was revelaed:
“Say: ‘He has power to send torment on you from above you…”
The Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم said:
‘I seek refuge with Your Face.’
“…or from under your feet…”
The Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم said:
‘I seek refuge with Your Face.’
‘or to cover you with confusion in party strife, and make you to taste the violence of one another.”
The Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم said:
‘This is lighter’ or ‘…easier.'”
(Reported by al-Bukhaaree in his Saheeh (Eng. trans. vol 6, p.120-121 no. 152)
It is reported by Muslim from Sa’d bin Abee Waqqaas (radhiyAllaahu ‘anhu) who said:
“We went along with Allaah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه و سلم until we came to the mosque of Banoo Mu’aawiyah, so Allaah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه و سلم entered and prayed two rak’ahs so we prayed along with him. So he called upon his Lord for a long time, then he said:
‘I asked my Lord for three things: I asked Him that He should not destroy my nartion with a deluge so He granted me that: I asked him that He should not destroy my nation with famine – as happend to the people of Fir’awn so He granted me that: and I asked Him that they should not fight amongst themselves – but He refused me that.”
From Khabbaab ibn al-Aratt, (radhiyAllaahu ‘anhu), who said:
“I came to Allaah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه و سلم on a night in which he spent the whole of it in prayer until it was fajr, so Allaah’s Messenger concluded his prayer with tasleem. I said: ‘O Messneger of Allaah: You have prayed a prayer this night the like of which I have not seen you pray.’
Allaah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه و سلم said:
‘Indeed it was a prayer of hope and fear. In it I asked my Lord, the Mighty and Majestic, for three things. He granted me two and refused me one. I asked my Lord, the Mighty and Majestic, that He should not destroy us with that which He destroyed the nations before us – and He granted it to me; I asked my Lord, the Mighty and Majestic, that He should not overwhelm us with an enemy from other than us – so He granted it to me; and I asked my Lord, the Mighty and Majestic, that He should not cause us to divide into separate groups each attacking the others, but He refused me that.'”
Reported by Imaam Ahmad, an-Nasaa’ee and at-Tirmidhee.
You believe in these Aayaat and you believe in the narrations which are authentic from Allaah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه و سلم so why will you not reflect upon them? Why will you not reflect upon them?
Why will you not attribute these misfortunes which occur to deficiency in your own practice of the Deen so that you turn back to your Lord and save yourselves from the causes of overwhelming destruction?
So fear Allaah O servant of Allaah and look to your affairs and repent before your Lord and correct your way towards Him. Know O nation that these punishments which have come upon you and these trials that have been inflicted upon you are your own doing and due to your sins. So for each chastisement repent and turn to Allaah and seek the refuge of Allaah, the Most High, from the trials; the material trials relating to the person: killing, injury and being forced from ones home; trails relating to wealth: decrease and loss: and trails relating to the Deen (the way of life prescribed by Allaah) – the doubts and desires which assail the hearts and keep the Ummah away from the Deen of Allaah, and keep it away from the way of our Pious Predecessors (Salaf) and which lead it to destruction. The trials of the heart are the worst and the most severe of all the trials in this world since worldly misfortunes when they occur can only cause loss in this world, which will pass away anyway, whether sooner or later but trials relating to the Deen cause loss of this world and the Hereafter:
“Say (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم) : The losers are those who will lose themselves and their families on the Day of Resurrection. Verily, that will be a manifest loss!”
(Soorah az-Zumar (39):15)
O Allaah, we ask you whilst awaiting fulfilment of one of the duties You have made obligatory upon us – that You make us of those who take heed of Your Signs and receive admonition when Your punishment descends.
O Allaah, grant that the Islamic Ummah and its leaders truly turn back to You in open and in secret, in their sayings and their actions so that the Ummah is rectified, since rectitude of the rulers is a cause of the rectitude of the Ummah.
O Allaah, we ask you that You rectify those in charge of the affairs of the Muslims and that You grant that they are able to take heed from events and that You direct them to that which You love and is pleasing to You – O Lord of the worlds.
O Allaah, we ask You that you keep away from them every evil adviser – indeed You have full power over everything.
O Allaah, guide them through good advisers to that which is good – those who will advise them and encourage them in good – O Lord of all the worlds.
O Allaah, whoever amongst the advisers of those in authority over the Muslims is not a sincere adviser to them, and is not sincere to the people them remove them and replace them with those who are better than them – O Lord of all the worlds. O Possessor of Majesty and Nobility.
All praise is for Allaah, Lord of all the worlds, and may He extol and send peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, upon his family, true followers and all his Companions.
Aameen.
The Second Khutbah
All praise is for Allaah, many pure and blessed praises as our Lord loves and is pleased with, and I testify that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah, alone, having no partner. All praise is for Him at the begginning and the end. I testify that Muhammad is His slave and His Messenger, the one whom He chose and took as His khaleel, may Allaah extol him and send peace upon him, his family, followers, Companions and those who follow in his way.
To proceed:
O servant of Allaah! Fear Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, and beware of neglecting the prescribed laws of Allaah… beware of neglecting Allaah’s signs… beware of failing to reflect upon the Book of Allaah… beware of failing to know the Sunnah of Allaah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه و سلم – since in the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of His Messenger صلى الله عليه و سلم lies your success (if you cling to them if you attest to the truth of what they inform of and followe their commands) in this world and the hereafter.
Servants of Allaah…
There are some people who doubt and seek to cause doubts that sins are a cause of misfortunes, and that is because of the weakness of their eemaan and their negligence in reflecting upon the Book of Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, and I will recite for the benefit of such people the saying of Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic:
“And if the people of the towns had believed and had taqaa (piety), certainly, We should have opened for them blessings from the heavens and the earth, but they belied (the Messengers). So we took them (with punishment) for what they used to earn (polytheism, and crimes etc.). Did the people of the towns them feel secure against the coming of Our punishment by night while they are asleep? Or, did the people of the towns then feel secure agains the coming of Our punishment in the forenoon while they play? Did they then feel secure against the plot of Allaah. None feels secure from the plot of Allaah except the people who are lost.”
(Soorah al-A’raaf (7):96-99)
One of the Pious Predecessors (Salaf) said:
“If you see Allaah grant blessings to a certain person, and then you see that person continuing in disobedience to Him, then know that this is from Allaah’s plan against him and that he is referred to by Allaah, the most Highs, saying:
“We shall gradually seize them with punishment in ways they perceive not. And I respite them; certainly My plot is strong.”
(Soorah al-A’raaf (7):182-183)
O Muslims, O worshippers of Allaah:
By Allaah, sins affect the security of a land; they affect its ease; its prosperity; its economy; and they affect the hearts of its people. Sins cause alienation between the people. Sins cause one Muslim to regard his Muslim brother as if he were upon a separate religion other than Islaam.
But if we sought to rectify ourselves, our families, our neighbours and those in our areas, and everyone we are able to rectify, if we mutually encouraged good and forbade evil, if we assisted those who do this with wisdom and wise admonition – then it would produce unity and harmony. Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, says:
“Let there arise out of you a group of people inviting all that is good (Islaam), enjoining the ma’roof and forbiddin the munkar. And it is those who are successful. And be not as those who divided and differed among themselves after the clear proofs had come to them. It is they for whom there is an awful torment.”
Quote:
Ma’roof: Tawheed (making all worship for Allaah alone) and all that Islaam orders one to do.Munkar: Shirk (associating others with Allaah in worship), Kufr (disbelief) and all that Islaam has forbidden).
(Soorah Aali-‘Imraan (3):104-105)
I call myself and you, O my brothers, to come together upon the Deen of Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic; support one another in establishing the Sharee’ah of Allaah; advise each other sincerely with wisdom and wise admonition; debate with those whom we have to debate with in the best way and by satisfying them with textual proofs and intellectual proofs and do not abandon the people of false beliefs upon their falsehood since they have a right upon us that we should explain the truth to them and encourage them to follow it and that we explain what is false to them and warn against it.
But as for remaining a disunited nation having no regard for one another and not caring about the affairs of each then whoever does not care about the Muslims is not from them.
O Muslims, I say and repeat that it is binding upon us, being Muslims and Believers that we see the occurences and misfortunes from the Islamic perspective as shown by the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of His Messenger صلى الله عليه و سلم. Since if we look at them from a materialistic perspective then the unbelievers are stronger and greater than us in the materialistic sense and they hold sway over us and enslave us through that. However, if we look from an Islamic perspective by the way of the Book and the Sunnah then we will abandon all that is a cause of these misfortunes, and if we return to Allaah and aid the Deen of Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, then Allaah says in His Book, and He is the most truthful in speech and most capable, He, the Mighty and Majestic saus:
“Verily, Allaah will help those who help His (cause). Truly, Allaah is All-Strong, All-Mighty. Those (Muslim rulers) who, if We give htem power in the land, (they) order the establishment of prayer and the payment of Zakaat (the obligatory charity), and they enjoin the ma’roof and forbid the munkar. And with Allaah rests the end of (all) matters (of the creatures).”
(Soorah al-Hajj (22):40-41)
He did not say “those whom if We give them power in the earth establish arenas of sin, idle, frivolity and shamelessness” rather he said:
“Those (Muslim rulers) who, if We give them power in the land, (they) order the establishment of prayer and the payment of Zakaat (the obligatory charity), and they enjoin the ma’roof and forbid the munkar. And with Allaah rests the end of (all) matters (of the creatures).””
Consider carefully, O Muslim brother, how Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, said:
“Verily, Allaah will help those who help His (cause). Truly, Allaah is All-Strong, All-Mighty.”
He stressed this promise of help with terms of emphasis: an implicit oath, the letter laam of emphasis, and the noon of emphasis. He further emphasized it by His saying:
“Truly, Allaah is All-Strong, All-Mighty.”
Since by His Power and His Might He helps those whom He wills, and consider how He ended the two Aayahs with His saying:
“And with Allaah rests the end of (all) matters (of the creatures).”
So a person may say due to his faulty thinking: “how can we be aided and granted victory against the unbelieving nations which are stronger and more powerful than us.” So Allaah, the Most High, explains that the affairs are under His control only and that He has power over everything. We all know what affect earthquakes have – occurring when Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, has ordered:
“Be! and it is.”
(Soorah an-Nahl (16):40)
– and such huge and embracing destruction occurs in a single second as cannot be produced by the strongest of these nations.
By Allaah, if we truly aided Allaah’s Deen as we aught to them we would be granted victory over every enemy upon the earth, but unfortunately many of us are appendages of the enemies of Allaah and the enemies of His Messenger صلى الله عليه و سلم – observing their actions against Allaah and His Messenger صلى الله عليه و سلم then following them in that. Perhaps even going to their lands and tossing our flesh and blood – sons and daughters – into those lands where nothing heard but church bells… where in no adhaan (call to prayer) is heard… no mention of Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, is heard… and nothing is seen except sin and idle frivolity…
So we ask Allaah, the Most High, that He turns the misguided of this Ummah back to the guidance, and that He makes us all to support one another and aid one another in carrying out good and righteousness until we return to this Ummah its lost glory and honour. Indeed He is one fully able and having this power to do that.
O Allaah accept from us (our righteous deeds). Indeed You are the one who hears and knows everything.
O Allaah accept from us (our righteous deeds). Indeed You are the one who hears and knows everything.
O Allaah accept from us (our righteous deeds). Indeed You are the one who hears and knows everything.
O Allaah, extol Muhammad and his true followers and family as You extolled Ibraaheem and the family of Ibraaheem. Indeed You are worthy of all praise, the most noble.
O Allaah, send blessings upon Muhammad and upon his true followers and family as You are Worthy of all Praise, the Most Noble.
Reference Link
6 Silent Effects of Sinning in Islam
As Muslims, we know the importance of staying away from sins. We know that it racks up bad deeds for us and can get us punished on the Day of Judgment. But with that, because we are created to be fallible, you find yourself still committing some sins every now and then.
“Every son of Adam commits sin, and the best of those who commit sin are those who repent.’” (Sunan Ibn Majah)
We may not be able to keep a clean sin-free slate, but the more we are aware of the effects of sinning in Islam, the more we hopefully are able to stay away from sins as much as humanly possible.
Here are six ways that sins affect us, and we should be aware of these things to prevent ourselves from sinning further.
Sins Bring Bad Deeds
When you commit a sin, it is written as a bad deed for you, until you repent. And the more you sin, the more bad deeds you have, till your scale of deeds is filled with more bad deeds than good.
Sometimes, you find Muslims who are unaware or heedless of this consequence. You may think that you are just having a bottle of wine to relax after work, but for every bottle that you consume, that is a sin recorded for you.
And a person continues to accumulate these sins because they have refused to remember that the more you go against what Islam stipulates, the more your sins become.
When we want to reduce our sins, we need to take account of what we do on a regular basis, our habits, etc. and take note of what may be considered as a sin. The worst part is making a sin a habit, such that you are amassing it on a consistent basis.
The Heart Becomes Hardened
The progression that sinning takes in a person’s life is similar to that of a thief. First, the thief may start with something small in school, in the neighborhood, or even at home. If they are not corrected or punished, they gradually get bolder and rob people, shops, banks, etc.
With sins, a person may feel remorseful the first time they commit adultery, for example. They may repent but find themselves going back to the sin. And they will continue to go back to the sin till they no longer feel any remorse.
Then they move to that frame of mind where they justify their sin without seeing the need for repentance. Because the more you commit a sin, the less you feel bad doing it.
Someone who genuinely wants to leave a sin behind will repent after every misdeed and will seek the help of Allah (ta’ala) and strive to keep themselves away from what brings them to the sin. This is the way to keep our hearts from being hardened by sins.
You may also like: 5 Lessons from the Story of Prophet Yunus (AS)
The Sinner Draws Away from Allah
When the heart becomes hardened, it is also possible to draw away from Allah (ta’ala). A person becomes so immersed in sins that they are not moved when the Qur’an is recited, they abandon the obligatory acts of worship and they lose their connection with Allah (ta’ala).
“When the believer commits sin, a black spot appears on his heart. If he repents and gives up that sin and seeks forgiveness, his heart will be polished. But if (the sin) increases, (the black spot) increases. That is the Ran that Allah mentions in His Book: “Nay! But on their hearts is the Ran (covering of sins and evil deeds) which they used to earn.” [83:14] (Sunan Ibn Majah)
Influencing Others to Sin
Many people commit sins as a result of an external influence. An alcoholic may influence someone in their home to start drinking alcohol without actually offering it to them. This is even quite common when children pick up sins from their parents.
You may not be aware of it, but you committing a sin in front of another person may be the reason why the person commits that sin too. And silently, you have influenced someone else towards sinning.
“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Whoever calls to guidance, then he receives the reward similar to the reward of whoever follows him, without that diminishing anything from their rewards. And whoever calls to misguidance, then he receives of sin similar to the sins of those who followed him, without that diminishing anything from their sins.” (Tirmidhi)
Going Out of the Fold of Islam
Many sins only count as bad deeds on the scale of the sinner, but there are some sins that may take a person out of the fold of Islam even without them realizing it.
Imagine a person who visits a sorcerer even when they know that it is a form of shirk in Islam. If this person does not sincerely repent to Allah(ta’ala), then they continue to commit that sin till they basically believe in the sorcerer more than they believe in Allah (ta’ala) and His Messenger.
“The Prophet (ﷺ) [said] about the major sins: “Shirk with Allah, disobeying the parents, taking the life, and false statement.” (Tirmidhi)
Denied Provision from Allah
One of the silent effects of sinning in Islam is that Allah(ta’ala) may deny the sinner His provisions as a form of punishment.
“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘Nothing extends one’s life span but righteousness, nothing averts the Divine Decree but supplication, and nothing deprives a man of provision but the sin that he commits.'” (Sunan Ibn Majah)
Many times, we may not see the effects or consequences of the sins that we commit. Because these effects can be silent and subtle, a person will not see how it affects their faith till they are being called to account on the Day of Judgment when it will be too late to seek forgiveness.