Sins and Repentance

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Righteousness is good morality and sin is that which causes discomfort (or pinches) within your soul and which you dislike people to become informed of.” (Muslim)

Sins can be against Allah (e.g. you don't perform the 5 prescribed daily prayers, fast in Ramadhan, pay zakat), against brotherhood (e.g. slander, backbite, steal, cheat, hurt and oppress your brother) or against humanity (e.g. squander, harm or destroy the environment.) A Muslim should make every effort to abstain from sins and strive to do righteous acts. Allah warns all of mankind that everything mankind does in this world will be put before us on the Day of Judgment.

يَوْمَئِذٍ يَصْدُرُ النَّاسُ أَشْتَاتًا لِّيُرَوْا أَعْمَالَهُمْ ﴿٦﴾ فَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ خَيْرًا يَرَهُ ﴿٧﴾ وَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ شَرًّا يَرَهُ ﴿٨

Upon that day men shall issue in scatterings to see their works, (6) And he who does an atom’s weight of good shall see it. (7) And he who does an atom’s weight of evil shall see it. (8)
(Qur’an Az-Zalzala 99:7-8)

Allah also warns mankind that the one whose bad deeds (sins) are heavy will be in Hell.

فَأَمَّا مَن ثَقُلَتْ مَوَازِينُهُ ﴿٦﴾ فَهُوَ فِي عِيشَةٍ رَّاضِيَةٍ ﴿٧﴾ وَأَمَّا مَنْ خَفَّتْ مَوَازِينُهُ ﴿٨﴾ فَأُمُّهُ هَاوِيَةٌ ﴿٩﴾ وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا هِيَهْ ﴿١٠﴾ نَارٌ حَامِيَةٌ ﴿١١

Then, as for him whose scales are heavy (with good works), (6) He will live a pleasant life. (7) But as for him whose scales are light, (8) The bereft and Hungry One will be his mother, (9) Ah, what will convey unto thee what she is! - (10) Raging Fire. (11) Qur'an Al-Qari'ah 101:6-11)

A Muslim’s strife is to live the life of a believer and separate from the likeness of sinners. Allah differentiates the Mu’min (believer) from the fasiq (sinner).

أَفَمَن كَانَ مُؤْمِنًا كَمَن كَانَ فَاسِقًا ۚ لَّا يَسْتَوُونَ ﴿١٨﴾ أَمَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ فَلَهُمْ جَنَّاتُ الْمَأْوَىٰ نُزُلًا بِمَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ ﴿١٩﴾ وَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ فَسَقُوا فَمَأْوَاهُمُ النَّارُ ۖ كُلَّمَا أَرَادُوا أَن يَخْرُجُوا مِنْهَا أُعِيدُوا فِيهَا وَقِيلَ لَهُمْ ذُوقُوا عَذَابَ النَّارِ الَّذِي كُنتُم بِهِ تُكَذِّبُونَ ﴿٢٠

Then is one who was a believer like one who was defiantly disobedient? They are not equal. (18) As for those who believed and did righteous deeds, for them will be the Gardens of Refuge as accommodation for what they used to do. (19) But as for those who defiantly disobeyed, their refuge is the Fire. Every time they wish to emerge from it, they will be returned to it while it is said to them, "Taste the punishment of the Fire which you used to deny." (20)
(Qur’an As-Sajda 32:18-20)

There are many harmful effects of sins, which include the following:

Being deprived of (Islamic) knowledge
The blessings of Allah will disappear
His du’a is not answered
Less help from Allah
Loss of gheerah (protective jealousy)
Loss of modesty
Difficulties and calamities
Anxiety
Terror in the heart of the sinner
Physical weakness
Being unable to do acts of worship
Easy to do more bad deeds
Getting used to sin
The curse of the animals will be upon him
He becomes insignificant in the sight of Allah and in the sight of people
Feelings of alienation in the heart
His heart will be sealed and he will come under the curse (of Allah)
Cause of mischief on land and sea
He will bear marks of humiliation
Falling into the clutches of the Shaytan
A bad ending
Punishment in the Hereafter.

Knowing some of these harmful effects of sin should be enough for one to keep away from sin altogether, but some people may move from one sin to another. They do this for a number of reasons, including: The means of doing it are readily available and widespread (e.g. watching pornography on the internet); The friends are committing this sin and they find it difficult to be different (e.g. not wearing proper hijab); a particular sin may give a person some status among his friends and he does not want to lose this status, so he continues to commit that sin (e.g. owning a fancy car on borrowed money with interest, attending business or social function where alcohol is served or loose mixing of opposite genders); Thinks that the sin is less serious than the sin before; Everybody is doing it or there is some fatwa out there so it must be ok or benign--your own ignorance (e.g. smoking, buying a home on interest, going to the movies, learning to dance or play certain musical instrument, praying incorrectly).

We should hasten to repent from our sins. Delaying repentance is in and of itself a sin for which repentance is required.

Allah Most High says:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا تُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّـهِ تَوْبَةً نَّصُوحًا

"O you who believe! Turn to Allah in sincere repentance..."
(Qu'ran At-Tahrim 66:8)

Repentance is something more than seeking forgiveness. Because this is a serious matter, there are conditions attached to it.

1. Leaving the sin immediately
2. Regretting or being remorseful for having committed the sin
3. Resolving not to return to the sin.
4. Making amends to those you have wronged. If it relates to the rights of another person, then one return the right or property one wrongly took.

You should give up the sin for the sake of Allah alone, and not for any other reason such inability to do it or repeat it, or fear of what people think or say. If you are sincere in your repentance to Allah, then expect your sin to be forgiven.

Allah Most High says:

وَالَّذِينَ لَا يَدْعُونَ مَعَ اللَّـهِ إِلَـٰهًا آخَرَ وَلَا يَقْتُلُونَ النَّفْسَ الَّتِي حَرَّمَ اللَّـهُ إِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ وَلَا يَزْنُونَ ۚ وَمَن يَفْعَلْ ذَٰلِكَ يَلْقَ أَثَامًا ﴿٦٨﴾ يُضَاعَفْ لَهُ الْعَذَابُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَيَخْلُدْ فِيهِ مُهَانًا ﴿٦٩﴾ إِلَّا مَن تَابَ وَآمَنَ وَعَمِلَ عَمَلًا صَالِحًا فَأُولَـٰئِكَ يُبَدِّلُ اللَّـهُ سَيِّئَاتِهِمْ حَسَنَاتٍ ۗ وَكَانَ اللَّـهُ غَفُورً‌ا رَّحِيمًا ﴿٧٠﴾ وَمَن تَابَ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحًا فَإِنَّهُ يَتُوبُ إِلَى اللَّـهِ مَتَابًا ﴿٧١

And those who do not invoke with Allah another deity or kill the soul which Allah has forbidden [to be killed], except by right, and do not commit unlawful sexual intercourse. And whoever should do that will meet a penalty. (68) Multiplied for him is the punishment on the Day of Resurrection, and he will abide therein humiliated - (69) Except for those who repent, believe and do righteous work. For them Allah will replace their evil deeds with good. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful. (70) And he who repents and does righteousness does indeed turn to Allah with [accepted] repentance. (71)
(Qur'an Furqan 25:68-71)

We should make up the duties towards Allah that we have missed. Destroy all haram things in our possession. We should keep away from places of sin, bad company and those who helped you to commit sin.

Allah Most High says:

الْأَخِلَّاءُ يَوْمَئِذٍ بَعْضُهُمْ لِبَعْضٍ عَدُوٌّ إِلَّا الْمُتَّقِينَ

“Friends on that Day will be enemies to each other except Al-Muttaqoon (the righteous)” (Qur'an Zukhruf 43:67)

Choose righteous friends and companions for they are your soldiers to fight against your nafs. Strive to attend circles of dhikr (remembrance of Allah) and gatherings of knowledge and fill your time with beneficial things so the Shaytan does not have any opportunity to whisper evil ideas and his tricks into your heart. Seek out halal substances with which to nourish your body so that your flesh will be renewed with halal substances. Do lots of good deeds (e.g. giving charity and helping people in need), for good deeds cancel out bad deeds.

May Allah forgive all our sins, give us strength to do what pleases Him and protect us from ignorance and His disobedience. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam