The Undetected Poison

He, in reality, is nothing in this vast creation. A speck upon a planet, which is a speck in comparison to the sun, which in turn is a speck in this universe, which is a speck in the ocean of Allah’s creation...

  • Categories: Tazkiah -

 


When people look around the world they see it full of problems and calamities, war, destruction, famine, poverty, people in therapy, people complaining of illnesses, death, misery, etc. Many people question why this seems to be true today perhaps more than ever before? However, most do not look to the root of the problem and what they may be doing to increase them. Allah says: {Evil (sins and disobedience of Allah, etc.) has appeared on land and sea because of what the hands of men have earned (by oppression and evil deeds, etc.),} [Al-Rum 30:41]
 
{ظَهَرَ الْفَسَادُ فِي الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِي النَّاسِ} الروم: 41
 
Transliteration: Thahara alfasadu fee albarri waalbahri bima kasabat aydee alnnasi
 
In addition, Allah says; {It is those who believe (in the Oneness of Allah and worship none but Him Alone) and confuse not their belief with Zulm (wrong i.e. by worshipping others besides Allah), for them (only) there is security and they are the guided.} [Al-Anaam 6:82]
 
{الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَلَمْ يَلْبِسُوا إِيمَانَهُم بِظُلْمٍ أُولَـٰئِكَ لَهُمُ الْأَمْنُ وَهُم مُّهْتَدُونَ} الأنعام: 82
 
Transliteration: Allatheena amanoo walam yalbisoo eemanahum bithulmin olaika lahumu alamnu wahum muhtadoona
 
 
The Poison
 
Sins are a poison which destroy and devastate. The effect of sins is the same on the heart as the effect of poison on the body. Iblis being thrown out of paradise, losing the company of the angels as well as being made the accursed was not due to anything but the sin he committed. The extreme wind which devoured the people of ‘Aad and left them broken and trodden was not due to anything but the sin they committed. The thunderous sound which stopped the pounding hearts of the people of Thamud and spared none of them was not due to anything but the sin they committed. Raising the land of the people of Lut into the heavens so that the angels heard the barking of their dogs; then they were turned over and flung to their destruction was not due to anything but the sin they committed. The sending of clouds upon the people of Shuaib which rained down bolts of fire upon them was not due to anything but the sin they committed. The drowning of Pharaoh and his army; their bodies drowning and their souls torched was not due to anything but the sin they committed. The earth swallowing up Qaroon; his wealth and his property was not due to anything but the sin he committed. The filling of the earth with earthquakes; Tsunami’s, hurricanes, wars, destruction and despair, all these events occurred due to the transgression of man and his deviation from the sacred and divine law.
 
One must truly contemplate upon his insignificance in this vast universe. He, in reality, is nothing in this vast creation. A speck upon a planet, which is a speck in comparison to the sun, which in turn is a speck in this universe, which is a speck in the ocean of Allah’s creation. When this man decides to disobey his lord; to transgress his boundaries; to throw his commands behind his back; he calls for his own destruction upon himself. Truly the creation is insignificant to Allah even when they obey Him. So, how insignificant is creation to Allah when they are arrogant, headless and drown themselves in disobedience of their creator?!
 
Just as every action has a reaction and every decision made has consequences, sins have effects and repercussions. From them are the following:
 
1) Being prevented from beneficial knowledge:
 
Knowledge is a light with which Allah enlightens the heart and sins extinguish that light.
 
When Imam Ash-Shafi studied with Imam Malik, Malik was impressed by him, so advised him saying: ‘I see that Allah has put light into your heart so do not extinguish that light with the darkness of disobedience.’
 
2) Cause of calamities:
 
{Evil (sins and disobedience of Allah, etc.) has appeared on land and sea because of what the hands of men have earned (by oppression and evil deeds, etc.),} [Al-Rum 30:41]
 
{ظَهَرَ الْفَسَادُ فِي الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِي النَّاسِ} الروم: 41
 
Transliteration: Thahara alfasadu fee albarri waalbahri bima kasabat aydee alnnasi
 
{And whatever of misfortune befalls you, it is because of what your hands have earned. And He pardons much.} [Ash-Shura 42:30]
 
{وَمَا أَصَابَكُم مِّن مُّصِيبَةٍ فَبِمَا كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِيكُمْ وَيَعْفُو عَن كَثِيرٍ} الشورى: 30
 
Transliteration: Wama asabakum min museebatin fabima kasabat aydeekum wayaAAfoo AAan katheerin
 
Mujahid said: ‘If the tyrant is given authority in the land he oppresses and causes corruption. Due to this, Allah prevents the sky from sending down rain so the fields and animals perish.’
 
3) Removal of barakah (Provisions):
 
{And indeed We punished the people of Fir'aun (Pharaoh) with years of drought and shortness of fruits (crops, etc.), that they might remember (take heed).} [Al-A’raf 7:130]
 
{وَلَقَدْ أَخَذْنَا آلَ فِرْعَوْنَ بِالسِّنِينَ وَنَقْصٍ مِّنَ الثَّمَرَاتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَذَّكَّرُونَ} الأعراف: 130
 
Transliteration: Walaqad akhathna ala firAAawna bialssineena wanaqsin mina alththamarati laAAallahum yaththakkaroona
 
4) Weakens ones veneration of Allah and leads to one not fearing Him:
 
How could this not be the case, since the sinner has wronged the one upon whom he depends for his very existence? Don’t look at the smallness of the sin, instead look at the greatness of the One who you have sinned against.
 
5) It causes Allah to forget the slave and leave him to himself and the devils:
 
{O you who believe! Fear Allah and keep your duty to Him. And let every person look to what he has sent forth for the morrow} [Al-Hashr 59:18]
 
{يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّـهَ وَلْتَنظُرْ نَفْسٌ مَّا قَدَّمَتْ لِغَدٍ} الحشر: 18
 
Transliteration: Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo ittaqoo Allaha waltanthur nafsun ma qaddamat lighadin 
 
{And be not like those who forgot Allah (i.e. became disobedient to Allah) and He caused them to forget their ownselves, (let them to forget to do righteous deeds).}[Al-Hashr 59:19]
 
{وَلَا تَكُونُوا كَالَّذِينَ نَسُوا اللَّـهَ فَأَنسَاهُمْ أَنفُسَهُمْ} الحشر: 19
 
Transliteration: Wala takoonoo kaallatheena nasoo Allaha faansahum anfusahum
 
So when man is negligent of Allah and forgets him then Allah causes man to forget that which will benefit him and that which will save him from His punishment, and thus he becomes blind to guidance even when it is made clear to him.
 
6) It causes the removal of bounties and brings about calamities:
 
Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said: ‘No calamity has ever come except due to sin and no calamity is ever removed except with repentance.’
 
{And whatever of misfortune befalls you, it is because of what your hands have earned. And He pardons much.} [Ash-Shura 42:30]
 
{وَمَا أَصَابَكُم مِّن مُّصِيبَةٍ فَبِمَا كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِيكُمْ وَيَعْفُو عَن كَثِيرٍ} الشورى: 30
 
Transliteration: Wama asabakum min museebatin fabima kasabat aydeekum wayaAAfoo AAan katheerin
 
{Verily! Allah will not change the good condition of a people as long as they do not change their state of goodness themselves (by committing sins and by being ungrateful and disobedient to Allah)} [Ar-Rad 13:11]
 
{إِنَّ اللَّـهَ لَا يُغَيِّرُ مَا بِقَوْمٍ حَتَّىٰ يُغَيِّرُوا مَا بِأَنفُسِهِمْ} الرعد: 11
 
Transliteration: inna Allaha la yughayyiru mabiqawmin hatta yughayyiroo mabianfusihim 
 
{Allah does not wrong His slaves in the slightest.} [Ghafir 40:31]
 
{وَمَا اللَّـهُ يُرِيدُ ظُلْمًا لِّلْعِبَادِ} غافر: 31
 
Transliteration: wama Allahu yureeduthulman lilAAibadi
 
7) Cause of man to always be the prisoner of Shaitân, he is imprisoned and shackled due to his whims and desires:
 
When sins overtake man and embed themselves in him, he becomes their slave and the slave of their master. In this state he will never be free. In reality, man only becomes free through obedience to his creator because this is what he was created for; this is his proper place and purpose in existence. {And I (Allah) created not the jinns and humans except they should worship Me (Alone).} [Adh-Dhariyat 51:56]
 
{وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ} الذاريات: 56
 
Transliteration: Wama khalaqtu aljinna waalinsa illaliyaAAbudooni
 
While he is engaged in disobedience to Allah, he is an imprisoned, shackled slave and no slave is in a worse situation than the one who is the slave of his enemy, no prison is more restricted than the prison of desire and no chains a harsher than the chains of whims and lusts. How can he travel to his Lord and to the paradise which he has prepared while in such a state?
 
 
Security from sins
 
None is safe from sinning; we are not angels nor were we created to be angels. However, we need to take heed of belittling sins and seeing them, even what we consider to be the small ones, as insignificant.
 
“A woman was punished due to a cat. She imprisoned it until it died and therefore entered the fire. She didn’t feed it, nor give it drink when she imprisoned it, nor did she let it go out and eat from the provision of Allah.” [Al-Bukhari]
 
«عذبت امرأة في هرة سجنتها حتى ماتت، فدخلت فيها النار، لا هي أطعمتها ولا سقتها إذ حبستها، ولا هي تركتها تأكل من خشاش الأرض» رواه البخاري
 
“Temptations will be presented to men's hearts as reed mat is woven stick by stick and any heart which is impregnated by them will have a black mark put into it, but any heart which rejects them will have a white mark put in it. The result is that there will become two types of hearts: one white like a white stone which will not be harmed by any turmoil or temptation, so long as the heavens and the earth endure; and the other black and dust-coloured like a vessel which is upset, not recognizing what is good or rejecting what is abominable, but being impregnated with passion.” [Reported by Muslim]
 
«تعرض الفتن على القلوب كالحصير عودا عودا. فأي قلب أشربها نكت فيه نكتة سوداء. وأي قلب أنكرها نكت فيه نكتة بيضاء. حتى تصير على قلبين، على أبيض مثل الصفا فلا تضره فتنة ما دامت السماوات والأرض. والآخر أسود مربادا، كالكوز مجخيا لا يعرف معروفا ولا ينكر منكرا إلا ما أشرب من هواه» رواه مسلم
 
 
Beware of yourselves
 
Sins are dangerous and lead to destruction. They may cause some enjoyment in the short term but the long term effects are detrimental to one’s life and soul.
 
Every person knows themselves best. They know what they have earned of good and what they have done of evil. One should not become arrogant when praised, rather forget about praise, and forget about what others think about you. Think of the times you were alone and you disobeyed your Creator, your Sustainer, the One upon whom your very existence depends. None saw you except He, none knows it but He, perhaps even you have forgotten but your Lord never forgets. What led you to this evil? What made it seem alluring to you? Could it be that your worst enemy is your own soul?
 
Know that you can always escape from the prison of sins and be free. The sins and their master have no true hold upon you except the hold you give them. Cling to obedience and shun off transgression. Truly understand that {Surely, Shaitan (Satan) is an enemy to you, so take (treat) him as an enemy.} [Al-Fatir 35:6]
 
{إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ فَاتَّخِذُوهُ عَدُوًّا} الفاطر: 6
 
Transliteration: Inna alshshaytana lakum AAaduwwun faittakhithoohu AAaduwwan
 
 If you fall short, if you sin then know that you have the power to erase your sin by repenting to your Lord and atoning for it.
 
The prophet (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) said that his Lord, the Exalted and Glorious, thus said. A servant committed a sin and he said: O Allah, forgive me my sins, and Allah (the Exalted and Glorious) said: “My servant committed a sin and then he came to realize that he has a Lord Who forgives the sins and takes to account (the sinner) for the sin. He then again committed a sin and said: My Lord, forgive me my sin, and Allah, the Exalted and High, said: My servant committed a sin and then came to realize that he has a Lord Who would forgive his sin or would take (him) to account for the sin. He again committed a sin and said: My Lord, forgive me for my sin, and Allah (the Exalted and High) said: My servant committed a sin and then came to realize that he has a Lord Who forgives the sins or takes (him) to account for sin. O servant, do what you like. I have granted you forgiveness.” [Agreed upon and the wording is for Muslim]
 
«عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم فيما يحكي عن ربه عز وجل قال: أذنب عبد ذنبا، فقال: اللهم اغفر لي ذنبي. فقال تبارك وتعالى: أذنب عبدي ذنبا، فعلم أن له ربا يغفر الذنب، ويأخذ بالذنب. ثم عاد فأذنب. فقال: أي رب! اغفر لي ذنبي. فقال تبارك وتعالى: عبدي أذنب ذنبا. فعلم أن له ربا يغفر الذنب، ويأخذ بالذنب. ثم عاد فأذنب فقال: أي رب! اغفر لي ذنبي. فقال تبارك وتعالى: أذنب عبدي ذنبا فعلم أن له ربا يغفر الذنب، ويأخذ بالذنب. اعمل ما شئت فقد غفرت لك» متفق عليه واللفظ لمسلم
 
{Say: "O 'Ibadi (My slaves) who have transgressed against themselves (by committing evil deeds and sins)! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah, verily Allah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.} [Az-Zumar 39:53]
 
{قُلْ يَا عِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا عَلَىٰ أَنفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا مِن رَّحْمَةِ اللَّـهِۚ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًاۚ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ} الزمر: 53
 
Transliteration: Qul ya AAibadiya allatheena asrafoo AAala anfusihim la taqnatoo min rahmati Allahi inna Allaha yaghfiru alththunooba jameeAAan innahu huwa alghafooru alrraheemu
 
 
Nadeem Rehman