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The Effects of Sins
By Ibn al-Qayyim
1. The Prevention of
Knowledge: Knowledge is a light which Allah 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 Allah is not given to
the disobedient.
2. The Prevention of Sustenance: Just as Taqwa brings about
sustenance the abandonment of Taqwa causes poverty. There is
nothing which can bring about sustenance like the abandonment of
disobedience
3. The prevention of obedience (to Allah). If there was no other
punishment for sin other than that it prevents one from
obedience to Allah then this would be sufficient.
4. 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.
5. Disobedience reduces the lifespan and destroys any blessings.
Just as righteousness increases the lifespan, sinning reduces
it.
6. Disobedience sows its own seeds and gives birth to itself
until separating from it and coming out of it becomes difficult
for the servant.
7. 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.
8. Every type of disobedience is a legacy of a nation from among
the nations which Allah(SWT) 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 Allah.
9. 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 Allah lowers (humiliates)
there is none to give honour." (Hajj 22:18)
10. 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.
11. 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 Allah.
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. [Bukhari]
12. Disobedience inherits humiliation and lowliness. Honour, all
of it, lies in the obedience of Allah. 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
13. 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.
14. 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)
15. 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)
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