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Various Benefits and Rulings
139
Satan wishes to tempt mankind to fall into one of seven pitfalls. He wishes for the
most sinful first and, if he is unsuccessful in that, he tries the next and so on. These
seven are, in descending order from the most sinful to the least :
1) Associating partners with Allah in polytheism/idolatry (Shirk) and disbelief
(Kufr); 2) Innovation in religion (Bid’ah) and leaving from the way of the Prophet
() and the way of his companions; 3) Committing the greater sins (Kaba‘ir);
4) Committing the lesser sins (Sagha‘ir); 5) Inciting to an over abundance of the
allowed things; 6) Inciting to do certain acts of obedience when there are others
that are more obligatory and greater in reward; 7) Sending the devils of the men
and jinn to annoy and bother the Muslim.
Sins are wiped clean and absolved by various things, including truthful
repentance, seeking forgiveness from Allah, doing good deeds, facing of trials and
tribulations, giving charity, and having other people make supplications for one’s
forgiveness.
If any of one’s sins were not forgiven by Allah in this life, the individual may
be punished in his grave, on the Day of Resurrection or in the Hellfire. Once Allah
has purified him from his sins, then, only by Allah’s will and mercy, will he be
allowed to enter Paradise if he died upon monotheism (Tawheed). If he died upon
polytheism, idolatry, disbelief or greater hypocrisy, he will enter the Hellfire and
reside therein forever.
Sins and acts of disobedience have great effects on a person. The effect on the
heart is that it brings a sense of alienation, humiliation and illness. It also creates a
barrier between the sinner and Allah.
The effect on the religion is the same. Moreover, it deprives one of the
inclinations towards obedience to Allah. It also deprives him of the supplications of
the Messenger of Allah () , the angels and the believers. The effect on the
sustenance is that it deprives one of provisions, the blessings of the sustenance,
and, furthermore, it creates even more poverty.
The effect on the individual is that it deprives one of his blessings in life and
makes increased hardships for him. The effect on one’s deeds is that his deeds
become unacceptable. The effect on the society is that it creates insecurity, increases
the cost of goods, increases the tyranny of the rulers and the enemies, causes drought,
etc… All this and much more is the result of sin.
Tranquility of the heart and its happiness and relief from anxiety is the cherished goal
of all people, since only by this do people have a wholesome and good life.
This is attained by religious, natural, and by practical means, all of which
merge together only for a believer, since he alone combines : 1) Belief in
Allah; 2) Obedience to the commands of Allah and avoidance of that which is
prohibited; 3) Beneficence to Allah’s creation by speech, action, and various
kinds of good deeds; 4) Preoccupying oneself with beneficial knowledge and
action, both in the affairs of Allah’s religion and the affairs of the life of this
world; 5) Avoidance of anxiety about future or past action, while instead