Vices and bad deeds & their consequences

Vices and bad deeds

Vices, bad deeds, major sins and minor sins are so many that these few pages are not enough to show them all as they have been mentioned in the Qur'an and the traditions.

In this chapter, we are going to explain the matters concerning these things as examples in the same way as we have talked about the good deeds and morals in the previous chapters and we refer the readers to the famous books of tafsir and Hadith.

Adorning oneself with good morals and purifying the inward from the vices changes one into a perfect man who will get the happiness of this life and the afterlife.

The main part of good morals causes the Divine mercy come down like the rain and causes man to enter the field of the Divine contentment whereas the main part of the vices and bad deeds causes to bring down the wrath of Allah and makes the personality of man disappear and brings him the Divine wrath and the eternal torment.

According to the Qur’anic verses Paradise, on the Day of Resurrection, will be the reward of the good deeds that man do in the worldly life and Hell will be the reward of the bad deeds. In other words the good deeds will be as bricks and materials of construction in Paradise whereas the bad deeds will be as tools of painful punishment in the afterlife.

We should seize the little opportunity in our worldly life and our short old to do good deeds and to avoid bad deeds to be safe from the painful punishment, to save ourselves from the eternal torment in Hell and to enter into Paradise to enjoy the eternal bliss of the Beloved.

Lying

Lying or every speech that is opposite to the reality is something ugly and obscene and it is one of the incitive means of the Satan.

The Qur'an in many verses considers lying as one of the major sins and declares that a liar deserves the wrath and curse of Allah. The Qur'an has threatened the liars and the rejecters of severe torment.

The Qur'an has mentioned the Christians of Najran who had come to argue with Prophet Muhammad (s) in Medina. The Prophet (s) had invited them to perform mubahala[1] to show them that they were liars and they deserved the curse of Allah.

Yes! The sin of lying is too heavy and great to a degree that a liar deserves to be cursed and driven out of the mercy of Allah.

“…then let us be earnest in prayer, and pray for the curse of Allah on the liars.” Qur'an, 3:61

Allah the Almighty mentions in the Qur'an the bad features of the hypocrites among which is the feature of lying and He witnesses on it;

“…and Allah bears witness that the hypocrites are surely liars.” Qur'an, 63:1

The Prophet (s) has said, ‘It is a great treason that you talk to your brother and he believes you whereas you tell him lies.’[2]

Imam Ali (s) has said, ‘Beware of lying because it is the lowest of morals and it is a kind of obscenity and a kind of meanness.’[3]

The Prophet (s) has said, ‘The greatest of sins is a lying tongue.’[4]

Ameerul Mo'mineen (s) has said, ‘If a person tells one a lie, the angel will go one mile away from him because of the foulness he does.’[5]

Imam al-Baqir (s) has said, ‘Allah the Almighty has made locks for evil and made the intoxicating drinks as the keys of these locks but lying is eviler than drinking.’[6]

The Prophet (s) has said, ‘Lying is a door from among the doors of hypocrisy.’[7]

Accusation

How ugly it is when someone pollutes the reputation of a man or a woman before people and ascribes vices to them! How ugly it is when someone accuses an innocent person of a sin that he has never committed just for selfish motives, personal desires and satanic incitements! How ugly it is when someone disgraces the honest and respectable peoples, defames and dishonors them!

Accusing innocent and chaste people is one of the ugliest deeds and worst morals.

“And whoever commits a fault or a sin, then accuses of it one innocent, he indeed takes upon himself the burden of a calumny and a manifest sin.” Qur'an, 4:112

The Prophet (s) has said, ‘He, who slanders a believer or accuses him of what he is innocent of, Allah will stand him on a hill of fire on the Day of Resurrection until he repents of what has accused that believer of.’[8]

Imam as-Sadiq (s) has said, ‘Whoever slanders a believing man or a believing woman or accused him/her of what he/she is free from Allah will imprison him on the Day of Resurrection in a clay of khabal until he will repents of what he has accused of.’ He was asked what the clay of khabal was and he said, ‘It is pus that comes out of the vaginas of the prostitutes.’[9]

The Prophet (s) has said, ‘Slandering an innocent person is heavier than mountains.’[10]

Backbiting

Among the vices and the very bad morals is to speak ill of someone behind his/her back.

Backbiting is to mention some features of an absent person that if he knows they are mentioned before the others, he will be angry and uncomfortable.

Backbiting is one of the major and heavy sins and committing it causes one’s heart to be polluted with darkness and consequently it (the heart) will be deprived of the Divine light and mercy.

The Holy Qur'an has prohibited people from backbiting strongly and compared one who backbites the others to one who eats the flesh of his dead Muslim brother.

“…nor let some of you backbite others. Does one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? But you abhor it; and be careful of (your duty to) Allah…” Qur'an, 49:12

The Prophet (s) has said to Abu Tharr, ‘O Abu Tharr, beware of backbiting for it is worse than adultery!’ Abu Tharr said, ‘O messenger of Allah, what is backbiting?’ The Prophet (s) said, ‘To mention your brother with what he hates.’ Abu Tharr said, ‘O messenger of Allah, even if he has what is mentioned about him?’ The Prophet (s) said, ‘Know that if you mention him with what he does not have, you slander him.’[11]

Ameerul Mo'mineen (s) has said, ‘He, who listens to backbiting, is like the backbiter.’[12]

The Prophet (s) has said, ‘He, whose Muslim brother is backbitten before him and he can defend him but he does not defend him, will be failed by Allah in this life and the afterlife.’[13]

Scorning and mocking

Mocking at the others and scorning them are very ugly deeds and major sins. How often that someone mocks and scorn another one who may be one of the saints or the sincere servants of Allah!

The Qur'an has forbidden people strongly from mocking at each other.

“O you who believe! let not (one) people laugh at (another) people perchance they may be better than them, nor let women (laugh) at (other) women, perchance they may be better than them…” Qur'an, 49:11

The Prophet (s) has said about mockers, ‘The gate of Paradise will be opened for a mocker and it will be said to him, ‘Come on!’ He will come with his griefs and distresses and when he will about to come in, the gate will be closed before him.’[14]

The mockers and scorners will face the result of their ugly deeds and will get their painful reward on the Day of Resurrection.

The Prophet (s) has said, ‘Do not scorn anyone of the Muslims because the little of them are great near Allah.’[15]

He has also said, ‘It is enough evil for the son of Adam to scorn his Muslim brother.’[16]

Oaths

Some people, in order to reach their material aims, take firm oaths and swear by Allah and so their oaths become as a kind of indignity, dishonor and violation of the sacredness of Allah the Almighty. The Qur'an says,

“And make not Allah, by your oaths, a hindrance to your being righteous and observing your duty unto Him and making peace among mankind. Allah is Hearer, Knower.” Qur'an, 2:224

The Prophet (s) has said to Imam Ali (s), ‘Do not swear by Allah whether true or false without necessity and do not make Allah as an obstacle to your oath for Allah does not mercify or talk to whoever swears by His name falsely!’[17]

Imam as-Sadiq (s) has said, ‘He, who takes an oath and he knows that he swears falsely, challenges Allah the Almighty.’[18]

Impermissible lusts

Impermissible lusts include the pleasures of the abdomen and the private parts, bodily and mental pleasures which are contrary to the will of Allah and opposite to His contentment.

Man has to remember Allah, the afterlife and the severe punishment he will face on the Day of Resurrection if he satisfies his lusts and desires in unlawful way and against the orders of the Sharia. But if man refrains from unlawful lusts and desires, he will be fit to win Paradise and he will not be rewarded except with Paradise;

“And as for him who fears to stand in the presence of his Lord and forbids the soul from low desires, then surely the garden that is the abode.” Qur'an, 79:40-41

The Prophet (s) has said, ‘Blessed is he who turns away from a present lust to a promise that he has not seen!’[19]

He has also said, ‘Three things that I fear for my nation after me; deviation after knowing, misleading seditions and the lusts of the abdomen and private parts.’[20]

Imam Ali (s) has said, ‘The slave of lusts is meaner than the slave of bondage.’[21]

The Prophet (s) has said, ‘The truth is heavy and bitter and the untruth is light and sweet. Perhaps a lust of a moment may cause a lasting sorrow.’[22]

He has also said, ‘If a sin or a lust happens to someone and he refrains from it for fear of Allah, Allah will save him from Fire and secure him from the Great Fear.’

Injustice and oppression

Injustice, violating the rights of others, preventing others from getting their rights, bad doings and conducts that cause harm to other people, contradicting the law, heresy, haughtiness and the likes are among the items of injustice, oppression and aggression.

The Holy Qur'an sees that as long as the unjust persons are still in the circle of oppression and aggression against people they are away from guidance and not worthy of it.

“And who is more unjust than he who forges a lie against Allah and he is invited to Islam, and Allah does not guide the unjust people.” Qur'an, 61:7

The Qur'an also sees that injustice and oppression are the reasons behind perishment and extinction of goodness and that the unjust society deserves misfortunes, torment and perishment;

“And when Our messengers came to Ibrahim with the good news, they said: Surely we are going to destroy the people of this town, for its people are unjust.” Qur'an, 29:31

The Qur'an declares that the unjust people on the Day of Resurrection will be deprived of intercession and the support of their assistants and relatives and they will live in Hell alone in horrible isolation. It is the punishment that will await for them on that day.

“And warn them of the day that draws near, when hearts shall rise up to the throats, grieving inwardly; the unjust shall not have any compassionate friend nor any intercessor who should be obeyed.” Qur'an, 40:18

The Qur'an declares too that the unjust people deserve the eternal torment and their suitable place will be in Hell and this punishment will not be limited to them only but to their followers and assistants too.

“…Surely the losers are they who have lost themselves and their followers on the resurrection day. Now surely the iniquitous shall remain in lasting chastisement.” Qur'an, 42:45

And the Qur'an announces that Allah does not love the unjust and it is clear that if someone is driven out of the circle of the love of Allah, will be afflicted with distress and wretchedness in this life and the afterlife.

“…surely He does not love the unjust.” Qur'an, 42:40

The Prophet (s) has said, ‘Between Paradise and Hell there are seven punishments the easiest of which is death.’ Anass asked, ‘O messenger of Allah, what is the most difficult of them?’ The Prophet (s) said, ‘Standing before Allah when the wronged will catch the wrongdoers.’[23]

In a Qudsi tradition it has been narrated, ‘My wrath has become too great against people who have wronged those who have not found any supporter save Me.’[24]

The Prophet (s) has said, ‘Avoid injustice because it is the darkness of the Day of Resurrection.’[25]

He has also said, ‘The one who is aware of the injustice, the one who assists in it and the one who is pleased with it are all partners in it.’[26]

Ameerul Mo'mineen (s) has said, ‘By Allah if I am given the seven continents and what there is under their horizons to disobey Allah just by extorting a shell of a barleycorn from an ant, I will never do.’[27]

Anger and violence

Anger, which is not for the sake of the truth, and violence in facing different events and in dealing with others or because of a mistake of one’s wife or children are satanic states and devilish powers that move the possibilities of deviation in the inner feelings of man.

Controlling one’s anger and suppressing rage are among the good morals that are necessary for every Muslim. Man at anger and violence becomes as a captive of these satanic motives and he involves in the quicksand of deviation. He acts just to relieve the latent rage inside him and then he may commit bad doing that he will not be able to repair later on.

Suppressing one’s anger, pardoning the others and being kind to them are from the signs of piety and they cause one to be beloved by Allah Who has said in the Qur'an;

“…and those who restrain (their) anger and pardon people; and Allah loves the doers of good (to others).” Qur'an, 3:134

The Prophet (s) has said, ‘If one of you becomes angry while he is standing, let him sit down and if his anger will not be relieved, let him lie down.’[28]

The Prophet (s) has said to Imam Ali (s), ‘Do not be angry! When you become angry, sit down and think of the power of Allah over the people and His patience with them. If it said to you “fear Allah”, get rid of your anger and go back to your patience!’[29]

Imam Ali (s) has said, ‘Beware of anger for its beginning is madness and its end is regret!’[30]

Imam al-Baqir (s) has said, ‘Whoever suppresses his anger while he is able to carry it out Allah will fill his heart with security and faith.’[31]

Imam as-Sadiq (s) has said, ‘Anger is the key of every evil.’[32]

Spite and hatred

Spite, hatred and enmity towards people without a legal excuse are outcomes of malevolence and diseased inners; therefore they are prohibited in the Sharia.

One, who bears spite and hatred towards others, will wrong and oppress them and then involve in sins and disobediences to satisfy his hatred and to relieve his hidden complexes.

A spiteful man lives in spiritual dryness and this dryness reflects on his human relations with the others. He becomes unkind and unloving to people. The Qur’anic verses and the traditions have declared that such a person is far away from the mercy of Allah in this life and the afterlife.

Imam Ali (s) has said, ‘Spite is the meanest of defects.’[33]

‘Spite is one of the natures of evildoers.’[34]

‘Spite is a hidden fire that cannot be put out except by death or a victory.’[35]

‘Pluck evil out of the others’ chests by plucking it out of your own chest!’[36]

‘The cause of seditions is spite.’[37]

‘Whoever discards spite his heart and mind will be at ease.’[38]

‘A spiteful person has no brothers.’[39]

We read in the dua’ (supplication) of Nudba that after the death of the Prophet (s) distresses and ordeals from every side have attacked Ahlul Bayt (s) and all what has happened of great seditions and deviations in the religion and in the life of people which cannot be repaired until the Day of Resurrection were the results of spite, hatred and envy rooted in the hearts of some of the unjust people.

Stinginess

Stinginess is a negative psychological state that prevents man from spending his money, position or honor for the sake of Allah or caring for the problems of the others in order to solve them or helping the needy or fulfilling the needs of his fellows and the likes.

Stinginess is a satanic feature and moral coming out of one’s dark inners away from the exalted human morals. It is one of the features of evildoers and enviers.

The Qur'an denies stinginess strongly, dispraises the stingy and declares that they will deserve severe torment and painful punishment on the Day of Resurrection.

“And let not those deem, who are niggardly in giving away that which Allah has granted them out of His grace, that it is good for them; nay, it is worse for them; they shall have that whereof they were niggardly made to cleave to their necks on the resurrection day.” Qur'an, 3:180

“…and (as for) those who hoard up gold and silver and do not spend it in Allah's way, announce to them a painful chastisement. On the day when it shall be heated in the fire of hell, then their foreheads and their sides and their backs shall be branded with it; this is what you hoarded up for yourselves, therefore taste what you hoarded.” Qur'an, 9:34-35

The Prophet (s) has said, ‘The least comfortable people are the stingy.’[40]

Imam Ali (s) has said, ‘Stinginess contains all the defects and it is a rein with which it is led to every bad.’[41]

Imam as-Sadiq (s) has said, ‘A stingy person is one who becomes stingy with what Allah has imposed on him.’[42]