The explanation of some obscene qulities arising from the intentions

اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي الذُّنُوبَ الَّتِي تَحْبِسُ الدُّعَاءَ

O Allah! Forgive me the sins which hold back supplication!

Factors Avoiding the Acceptance of Supplications

Imam Al-Sajj¡d (a.s) considers seven sins as the avoiding factors for the acceptance of supplications by the Almighty: 1. Bad intentions, 2. Hidden vices, 3. Hypocrisy with religious brothers, 4. Doubtfulness about acceptance of supplications, 5. Postponing the prayers, 6. Leaving goodness and alms giving, which make people close to Allah, 7. Speaking rudely with people and using obscene words.[1]

Bad Intention

Intention means one’s decision and goal. Islam asks people to have good intention toward all humans and even animals and beings, to wish goodness, prosperity, and health for everyone. Islam recommends human to do good to others and solve their problems, to the extent possible. Good intention and wish for others is so valuable that it is rewarded! It is narrated from Imam ¯¡diq (a.s):

A poor Muslim asks Allah: ‘O Lord! Grant me wealth to do goodness and alms giving so and so!’ If Allah knows his intention as truthful, He gives that servant as much reward as he had practiced all his good intentions, since Allah is Generous![2]

It is also narrated: “A hungry man crossed a sand hill and thought to himself: ‘If these sand grains were food, I would have divided them among people.’ Allah revealed to the prophet of that time: ‘Tell the man that Allah accepted his good intention for alms giving, and rewarded him as if he had granted as much food as the sand grains to the people.’”[3]

Human should avoid having bad intentions toward all other humans and beings, because corrupted intention makes heart hard and leads to committing sins and oppressing Allah’s servants.

Hidden Vices

Vices such as mistrust, hatred, self-admiration, negligence, insolence, arrogance, stinginess, greed, jealousy, and loving Allah’s enemies are harmful sins that avoid the acceptance of prayers, in addition to worldly and heavenly chastisement.

Imam al-B¡qir (a.s) says about the hypocrites:

بِئْسَ العَبْدُ عَبْدٌ هُمَزَةٌ لُمَزَةٌ يُقْبِلُ بِوَجْهٍ وَيُدْبِرُ بِآخَرَ.

A bad servant of Allah is one who is caviler and slanderer; on one side, he comes to befriend, on the other hand, he begins enmity.[4]

Mistrust

Being suspicious of Allah, His friends, and the Muslims is an obscene, though hidden sin, which is recorded in human letter of deeds, accounted for on the Resurrection Day, and chastised severely. The exception to this is the one who can repent in this world.

 

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اجْتَنِبُوا كَثِيرًا مِنْ الظَّنِّ إِنَّ بَعْضَ الظَّنِّ إِثْمٌ.

O you who believe: Avoid suspicion as much (as possible): for suspicion in some cases is a sin. (49:12)

The Messenger of Allah (s.a) stated:

وَاللهِ الَّذِي لاَ إلَهَ إلاَّ هُوَ، مَا أُعْطِىَ مُؤمِنٌ خَيْرَ الدُّنْيَا وَالآخِرَةِ إلاَّ بِحُسْنِ ظَنِّهِ بِاللهِ وَرَجَائِهِ لَهُ وَحُسْنِ خُلُقِهِ وَالكَفِّ عَن اِغْتِيَابِ المُؤمِنِينَ، وَاللهِ الَّذي لا إلَهَ إلاَّ هُوَ لا يُعَذِّبُ اللهُ مُؤمِناً بَعْدَ التَّوْبَةِ وَالاسْتِغْفَارِ إلاَّ بِسُوءِ ظَنِّهِ بِاللهِ وَتَقْصيرٍ مِنْ رَجَائِهِ للهِ وَسُوُءِ خُلُقِهِ وَاغْتِيَابِهِ المُؤمِنِينَ، وَاللهِ الَّذي لا إلَهَ إلاَّ هُوَ، لا يَحْسُنُ ظَنُّ عَبْدٍ مُؤمنٍ بِاللهِ إلاَّ كَانَ اللهُ عِنْدَ ظَنِّ عَبْدِهِ المُؤمِنِ، لأنَّ اللهَ كَريمٌ بِيَدِهِ الخَيْراتُ، يَسْتَحْيي أنْ يَكُونَ عَبْدُهُ المُؤمِنُ قَدْ أحْسَنَ بِهِ الظَّنَّ وَالرَّجَاءَ ثُمَّ يُخْلِفُ ظَنَّهُ وَرَجاءَهُ، فَأحْسِنُوا بِاللهِ الظَّنَّ وَارْغَبُوا إلَيْهِ.

I swear by God who has no partners that no good of this world or the Hereafter has been granted to any believer, except due to his good opinion about God, his good behavior, and his avoidance of gossiping and slandering. And I swear by God who has no partners that God will not punish anyone after repentance and seeking forgiveness except due to his bad opinion about God, insufficient hope in God, bad behavior, and gossiping about believers. I swear by God who has no partners that there are no believers who have a good opinion about God and receive anything less than they expect from Him. This is so since God is Benevolent and has authority over all that is good, and is ashamed of one of his servants having a good opinion about Him and He acting otherwise. Therefore have a good opinion about God and be inclined to Him.[5]

A believer who has the virtues of belief and good morality and behavior should be hopeful of Allah’s Mercy and avoid thinking doubtfully of Him.

The sinners can repent and compensate for their sins. Since the Almighty has promised to forgive the sinners after their repentance, in His Book, the sinners should not be doubtful about the acceptance of their repentance by Allah. Instead, they should wholeheartedly believe in Allah’s Blessing toward them to become subject to His Mercy.

The invaluable tradition narrator, Allamiyi Majlis¢, explains about the tradition on optimism and pessimism about Allah, saying: “One should be optimistic about Allah’s forgiveness when he repents. One should know that when he turns to Allah, He would accept him. When he prays rightly he should be aware that Allah would answer his prayer. When he asks Allah to help him, he should believe that Allah would suffice him. And when he does something for Allah he should know that Allah would accept hid deed. This is optimism, and anyone who is pessimist about Allah has done a major sin, which would bring about chastisement.[6]“

A Muslim believer should interpret other Muslims’ conducts optimistically, however negative they may seem. He has no right to be doubtful about others’ behaviors. For instance, if one sees a Muslim in a sin circle in which unlawful stuff like gambling and wine exist, he is not allowed to charge that believer with wrongdoing, rather, as recommended by the Prophet (s.a) and his household (a.s), he should calm down and say to himself: “Lucky my believer brother! Allah has blessed him to be present in this circle to enjoin good and forbid evil and save the wrongdoers. I wish I had the opportunity to be in his place so that I could cure the patients of sin and release the captives of Satan, hence I could receive Allah’s reward.”

Hatred

Every Muslim should have affection toward other humans, except those that Allah permits not. One’s hatred toward other people deprives him from strengthening ties of kinship, beneficence, and charity. Hatred to people makes one’s heart, mind, and thought hard and dark, and removes Allah’s Mercy.

The Messenger of Allah (s.a) stated:

مَا كَادَ جِبْرَئيلُ يَأتِيني إلاَّ قَالَ: يَا مُحَمَّدُ، إتَّقِ شَحْنَاءَ الرِّجَالِ وَعَداوَتَهُمْ.

Gabriel didn’t descend to me, except that he advised me not to feel hatred for other people.[7]

Also Am¢r al-Mu’min¢n (a.s) said:

رَأسُ الجَهْلِ مُعَادَاةُ النَّاسِ.

The core of foolishness is hatred for people.[8]

He also said:

مُعَادَاةُ الرِّجَالِ مِنْ شِيَمِ الجُهَّالِ.

Hating people is the manner of the foolish.[9]

Imam Sadiq (a.s) stated:

إيَّاكَ وَعَداوَةَ الرِّجَالِ فَإنَّها تُورِثُ المَعَرَّةَ وَتُبْدِي العَوْرَةَ.

Avoid enmity with people; because it leads to demolition and manifests mistakes.[10]

Self-Admiration

Admiring oneself or pride in one’s own deeds is an obscene sin. Mankind is servant of Allah; his life and death is in His hands, his sustenance is from Allah, his worship is a blessing from Allah, and every good deed he does is by Allah’s wish. Therefore, human should not take pride in what he does. Imam Sadiq (a.s) stated:

مَنْ دَخَلَهُ العُجْبُ هَلَكَ.

Anyone who admires himself would be annihilated.[11]

He also narrated: “A wise man came to a pious servant of Allah and told him: ‘How do you pray?’ The pious answered: ‘How do you dare ask this question from someone like me? I worshipped Allah such and such, from the start.’ The questioner asked: ‘How do you cry?’ He answered: ‘I cry to such an extent that my tears flow.’ The wise man said: ‘You’d better laugh while you are afraid of Allah and not cry while you admire yourself. In fact, Allah would not accept the deeds of anyone who is proud of himself.’”[12]

The Messenger of Allah (a.s) stated: “Almighty Allah told Prophet David (a.s): ‘O David! Give good tidings to the sinners and warn the pious! David asked Allah: ‘Why should I do so?’ The Almighty answered: ‘Tell the sinners that I am the Forgiver and would accept their repentance. And warn the righteous of taking pride in their deeds, because if I account for people’s deeds no one would be saved from My chastisement.’”[13]

Hypocrisy

Hypocrisy in worship and good deeds to gain people’s attention is unlawful and subject to Allah’s wrath.

The Holy Qur’¡n has announced hatred toward some of those who pray hypocritically, saying:

فَوَيْلٌ لِلْمُصَلِّينَ (4) الَّذِينَ هُمْ عَنْ صَلَاتِهِمْ سَاهُونَ (5) الَّذِينَ هُمْ يُرَاءُونَ (6) وَيَمْنَعُونَ الْمَاعُونَ (7).

So woe to the praying ones who are unmindful of their prayers; who do good to be seen and withhold the necessaries of life. (107/4-7)

Someone asked the Messenger of Allah (s.a): “How can we reach salvation?” The Prophet (s.a) replied: “You should avoid saying prayers for attracting people’s attention.”[14]

It is narrated that someone is murdered in the holy war, another gives his wealth away for Allah, and a third one recites Qur’¡n. Allah calls on them: ‘You told lies in the holy war; you wanted others to say that you were brave. You told lies in your alms giving; you wanted people to think you were very generous. And you told lies in reciting Qur’¡n; you wanted to be known by others as a reader of Qur’¡n.’ The Prophet (s.a) then said: ‘Such people are not rewarded and their hypocrisy wipe up their deeds.’”[15]

A tradition narrated from the Prophet of Islam (s.a) reads:

إنَّ اللهَ تَعَالَى يَقُولُ لِلمَلائِكَةِ: إنَّ هَذا لَْم يُرِدْنِي بِعَمَلِهِ، فَاجْعَلُوهُ فِي سِجِّين.

The Glorious Allah tells the angels: ‘This person has not done his deeds for Me, so take him to the Hell.’[16]

The Messenger of Allah (s.a) also stated:

إنَّ أخْوَفَ مَا أخَافُ عَلَيْكُم الشِّرْكُ الأصْغَرُ... الرِّيَاءُ.

The scariest thing for you is the minor idolatry… showing off![17]

The Messenger of Allah (s.a) further said:

إنَّ اللهَ لا يَقْبَلُ عَمَلاً فِيهِ ذَرَّةٌ مِنْ رِياءٍ.

Allah would not accept any deed in which there is a ting of showing off.[18]

Shaddad Ibn Aws says: “I saw the Prophet (s.a) crying and asked him the reason. He said: ‘I am scary of my nation’s hypocrisy. They would not worship stone idols, the sun, or the moon, but they would be hypocrite in what they do.’”[19]

Arrogance

Being arrogant before the truth, the advice-giver people, or Allah’s rules, or His Prophet’s is a satanic manner.

Satan got deprived of Allah’s Mercy, for his arrogance before Him, outcast, cursed, and doomed to chastisement. An arrogant is so much unlucky that he is away from Allah’s Mercy.

إِنَّهُ لا يُحِبُّ الْمُسْتَكْبِرِينَ.

… verily He loveth not the arrogant. (16:23)

It suffices for an arrogant the punishment that Qur’¡n has considered him an inhabitant of the Inferno:

فَلَبِئْسَ مَثْوَى الْمُتَكَبِّرِينَ.

Woeful indeed will be the lodging of the arrogant. (16:29)

Considering oneself better than others, as the center of everything, and arrogance against Allah’s rules, His worship, and the reality is a major sin which brings Allah’s doomed punishment.

Boasting about ones knowledge, deeds, worship, ancestry, beauty, wealth, strength, or plentiful friend is an obscene act.

Imam Sadiq (a.s) stated:

اَلعِزُّ رِدَاءُ اللهِ وَالكِبْرُ إزَارُهُ، فَمَنْ تَنَاوَلَ شَيئاً مِنْهُ أكَبَّهُ اللهُ فِي جَهَنَّمَ.

Glory, Dignity, and Greatness belong to Allah; anyone who considers these attributes as belonging to himself will be placed in Hell.[20]

Imam al-B¡qir (a.s) and Imam Sadiq (a.s) said:

لا يَدْخُلُ الجَنَّةَ مَنْ فِي قَلْبِهِ مِثْقَالُ ذَرَّةٍ مِنْ كِبْرٍ.

One who has even a ting of arrogance in his heart would not enter Paradise.[21]

Imam Sadiq (a.s) also stated:

إنَّ في جَهَنَّمَ لَوادِياً لِلمُتَكَبِّرِينَ يُقالُ لَهُ سَقَرُ، شَكَى إلَى اللهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ شِدَّةَ حَرِّهِ وَسَألَهُ أنْ يَأذَنَ لَهُ أنْ يَتَنَفَّسَ، فَتَنَفَّسَ فَأَحْرَقَ جَهَنَّمَ.

In the Inferno, surely there is a place for the arrogant called ‘Saqar’. It complaints about its extreme hotness to Allah and asks permission for breathing; it burns the whole inferno as it breathes.[22]

‘Abd Al-A’la says: “I asked Imam Sadiq (a.s): ‘What is arrogance?’ He stated:

أعْظَمُ الكِبْرِ أنْ تُسَفِّهَ الحَقَّ.

‘The highest degree of arrogance is belittling the truth and other people.’

I asked again: ‘How does one belittle the truth?’ Imam (a.s) answered:

يَجْهَلُ الحَقَّ وَيَطْعَنُ عَلَى أهْلِهِ.

‘Belittling the truth is misunderstanding it and reproaching those who support it.’[23]