The Bitter Consequences of Sins
By Imaam Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah [1]
It is essential to know that sins and acts of disobedience are, necessarily,
very harmful. Their harm effects upon the heart are akin to the harmful effects
of poison upon the body, though the effects vary in their levels and
intensities.
So is there any evil or harm in this world, or in the Hereafter, except that it
is due to sins and disobedience?
So what was it that expelled the two parents [i.e. Adam and Eve] from Paradise;
the home of delight, bliss, splendor and joy; to the home of pain, sorrow and
misfortune?
What was it that expelled Iblees [i.e. Satan] from the heavenly realms, causing
him to be rejected and cursed; transforming him both inwardly and outwardly, so
that his form became ugly and hideous - his inner form more hideous than his
outer - replacing his nearness with remoteness, mercy with curse, his beauty
with ugliness, from being in Paradise to being in the blazing Fire, from having
faith to being an unbeliever, from having the patronage and friendship of
Allaah, the Praiseworthy Guardian, to being the greatest enemy and opponent,
from glorifying and praising Him to committing acts of unbelief, shirk, lies,
deception and shamelessness, from being adorned with faith to being clothed in
the garment of unbelief, sinfulness and disobedience, causing him to reach the
deepest depths of despicability, plunging down in the sight of Allaah as far as
it is possible to plunge; causing the anger of Allaah the Exalted to be upon
him, making him an outcast -
despised and humiliated - so that he became a leader for every sinner and
criminal, becoming pleased with leadership for himself, after having reached
the station of worship and nobility?
O Allaah, we seek refuge in You from opposing Your command and falling into
what You have forbidden.
What was it that caused the people of the earth to drown, to the extent that
the water rose above even the mountaintops?
What was it that caused the violent winds to overcome the people of ‘Aad, such
that it flung them down dead upon the face of the earth - as if they were
lopped-off palm trunks - and it destroyed whatever dwellings and crops it came
across, thus making them an example for nations until the Day of Resurrection?
What was it that caused the piercing shrieks to be set loose upon the Thamood
people, such that their hearts were severed within their very bodies, by which
they all perished?
What was it that caused the town of the homosexuals to be raised up and turned
upside down, such that they were all destroyed? Then stones from the sky pelted
down upon them so that they suffered a combined punishment, the like of which
was not given to any other nation! And for their brothers will be its like; and
it is not far off from the transgressors!
What was it that caused the clouds of punishment to overcome the people of
Shu’ayb, such that when these clouds were above their heads it rained scorching
fire upon them?
What was it that caused the Pharaoh and his people to be drowned in the ocean,
and caused their souls to be transported to the Hellfire, so their bodies
drowned and their souls burned?
What was it that caused Qaaroon, his dwelling, wealth and family to sink down
into the earth?
What was it that caused the destruction of those generations after Noah, and
how they were afflicted with various punishments that caused their annihilation?
What was it that caused the destruction of the companions of Yaa Seen, with the
clamorous shout, which destroyed them?
What caused there to be sent against the Children of Israa’eel enemies of great
strength and might, plundering their homes, killing their men, enslaving their
women and children, burning their dwellings, seizing their wealth, and then
returning again a second time, destroying what was rebuilt after the first
onslaught?
What was it that caused the various types of punishments to be set loose upon
the Children of Israa’eel? Killing them, enslaving them, destroying their land
and at times causing them to be oppressed by kings, whilst at another time
causing them to be transformed into apes and swines - and finally the Lord took
an oath that: “He would certainly keep on sending against them, until the Day
of Resurrection, those who will inflict them with a humiliating torment.”
[Soorah al-A’raaf 7:167]
Imam Ahmad said: al-Waleed ibn Muslim related to us; that Safwaan ibn ’Amr
related to us; that ‘Abdur-Rahmaan ibn Jubayr ibn Nufayr related; from his
father, who said:
“When Cyprus was conquered and its people were dispersed and they started
weeping to each other, I saw Abud-Dardaa sitting alone and weeping. So I said
to him: O Abud-Dardaa! What makes you weep on this day that Allaah has granted
strength and honor to Islaam and its people? So he said: Woe be to you O
Jubayr! How insignificant the creation becomes to Allaah when they turn away
from His command. In front of us is a nation who were evidently powerful and
who had dominion, yet they abandoned Allaah’s command, so look what has become
of them.”
[2] ‘Alee ibn al-Ja’d said: Shu’bah ibn ‘Amr ibn Murrah informed us; I heard
Abul-Bukhtaree say:I was informed by someone, who heard the Prophet (sallalalhu
alaihi wa-sallam) saying:
“The people will not perish, until they have no excuse left for themselves.”
[3] Imaam Ahmad reports in his Musnad, from the hadeeth of Umm Salamah, who
said: I heard Allaah’s Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) saying:
“When acts of disobedience become widespread in my ummah, then Allaah may send
punishment upon them all from Himself” So I said: 0 Allaah’s Messenger! Even if
there are righteous people amongst them that day? So he replied: “Indeed!” So I
said: How will that be? He replied: “They will be afflicted with what afflicts
the people, then they will move on to the forgiveness of Allaah and His good
pleasure.” [4]
FOOTNOTES
[1] Ad-Daa’ wad-Dawaa’ (pp.65-67).
[2] Reported by Imaam Ahmad in az-Zuhd (i/86) with an authentic (saheeh) chain
of narration
[3] Reported by Ahmad (4/260) and Abu Daawood (no.4347) with an authentic chain
of narration.
[4] Reported by Ahmad (6/304) and one of its narrators is Layth ibn Abee
Sulaym, who is weak. However the hadeeth is established due to further
supporting narrations. Consult Silsilatul-Ahaadeethus-Saheehah (no.1372) of
Shaykh al-Albaanee
Related Links:
How to Erase Our Sins - from Ahadeeth
Compilation of Ahadîth that speaks of ways in which we can erase our sins,
InshaAllâh!
Keeping Sins a Secret
References: Lecture by Allama Ehsan Ilahi Zaheer (rahimahullah), Qawaaid
wa-Fawaaid min al-Arabeen an-Nawawi by Shaikh Nathim Sultan, Tafseer Ibn
Katheer, and others.
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