It is possibly the worst news for those who did good deeds that Sins annihilate all their saves specially if they insist on the sins. This warning from the part of Allah is Emphasized in the verses of holly Quran as well as many other Islamic texts and instruction. This alert is not ignored in the “ Kumayl supplication”. The textto be followed is a part of the book “ a commentary on Kumayl Supplication” by professor Hossein Ansaryan that interprets and exemplifies this important issue.
Inauspicious Consequences of Committing Sins
Qur’¡nic verses and traditions contain instances of the outcome of committing sins. Committing sins ruins belief and diminishes good deeds. Sins bring about worldly misfortune and catastrophes and also chastisement in the Hereafter. Committing sins hinders acceptance of prayers by Allah. It deprives humans from intercessions, and makes the hearts cruel. Sins make preaches ineffectual. They make human humble and deprived of Allah's sustenance. They keep humans away from serving Allah. Committing sins results in gradual dominance of Satan on humans. It tears down the discipline present in the society and the families. Sins make people unconfident to each other. They cause a hard death and difficulty in the purgatory.
It is narrated from Imam ¯¡diq (a.s):
أمَا إنَّهُ لَيْسَ مِنْ عِرْقٍ يَضْرِبُ وَلا نَكْبَةٍ وَلا صُدَاعٍ وَلا مَرَضٍ إلا بِذَنْبٍ، وَذلِكَ قَوْلُ اللهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فِي كِتَابِهِ: “وَمَا أَصَابَكُمْ مِنْ مُصِيبَةٍ فَبِمَا كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِيكُمْ وَيَعْفُو عَنْ كَثِيرٍ.”
No vein is cut, no foot strikes a stone, no trouble is made, no sickness is caused except for committing a sin. That's why the Almighty has stated in His Book: ‘Whatever affliction may visit you is for what your own hands have earned; and He pardons much. (42:30)’It is also narrated from him:
إنَّ الرَّجُلَ يُذْنِبُ الذَّنْبَ فَيُحْرَمُ صَلاةَ اللَّيْلِ وَإنَّ العَمَلَ السَّيِّءَ أسْرَعُ فِي صَاحِبِهِ مِنَ السِّكِّينِ فِي اللَّحْمِ.
Whenever an individual misses saying his night prayer, he has certainly committed a sin. The effect of a sin in the sinner is faster than the effect of a knife in meat.
It is narrated from Imam al-Ri¤¡ (a.s):
أوحَى اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ إلَي نَبِيٍّ مِنَ الأنْبِيَاءِ: إذَا أُطِعْتُ رَضِيتُ، وَإذَا رَضِيتُ بَارَكْتُ، وَلَيْسَ لِبَرَكَتِي نِهَايَةٌ، وَإذَا عُصِيتُ غَضِبْتُ، وَإذا غَضِبْتُ لَعَنْتُ، وَلَعْنَتِي تَبْلُغُ السَّابِعَ مِنَ الوَرَى.
The Almighty told one of the Prophets (a.s) through revelation: If I am obeyed, I would be pleased, and if I am pleased, I would give Blessings, and My Blessings are infinite. If I am disobeyed, I would be Wrathful, and if I become Wrathful, I curse, and My Curse would affect seven generations ahead.
Throughout history, it has been proved that sometimes the progeny of oppressors have been afflicted by poverty, patience, disability, or narrowness of sustenance. This is, in fact, a Blessing from Allah for them, not to become involved in sins and revolt.
About insistence on committing sins, it is narrated from Amir Al-Mu'minin (a.s):
مَا مِنْ عَبْدٍ إلاَّ وَعَلَيْهِ جُنَّةٌ حَتَّى يَعْمَلَ أرْبَعِينَ كَبِيرَةً؛ فَإذَا عَمِلَ أرْبَعِينَ كَبِيرَةً انْكَشَفَتْ عَنْهُ الجُنَّةُ، فَيُوحِي اللهُ إلَى المَلائِكَةِ أنْ اسْتُرُوا عَبْدِي بِأجْنِحَتِكُمْ، فَتَسْتُرُهُ المَلائِكَةُ بِأجْنِحَتِهَا، (قال) فَمَا يَدَعُ شَيْئاً مِنَ القَبِيحِ إلاَّ قَارَفَهُ حَتَّى يَمْتَدِحَ إلَى النَّاسِ بِفِعْلِهِ القَبِيحِ، فَتَقُولُ المَلائِكَةُ: يَا رَبِّ، هَذا عَبْدُكَ مَا يَدَعُ شَيْئاً إلاَّ رَكِبَهُ وإنَّا لَنَسْتَحْيِي مِمَّا يَصْنَعُ. فَيُوحِي اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ إلَيْهِمْ أن اِرْفَعُوا أجْنِحَتَكُمْ عَنْهُ، فَإذا فُعِلَ ذَلِكَ أخَذَ بِبُغْضِنَا أهْلَ البَيْتِ فَعِنْدَ ذَلِكَ يَتَهَتَّكُ سِتْرُهُ فِي السَّمَاءِِ وَسِتْرُهُ فِي الأرْضِ، فَتَقُولُ المَلائِكَةُ: يَا رَبُّ هَذا عَبْدُكَ قَد بَقِيَ مَهْتُوكَ السِّتْرِ. فَيُوحِي اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ إلَيْهِمْ: لَوْ كَانَتْ للهِ فِيهِ حَاجَةٌ مَا أمَرَكُمْ أنْ تَرْفَعُوا أجْنِحَتَكُمْ عَنْهُ.
There is no servant but there are forty veils of reverence for him, until he commits forty major sins. After doing so, Allah reveals to the angels: Cover My servant with your wings. The angels cover the servant with their wings. Then that servant commits every sin he wishes to the extent that he takes pride in doing sins among people. The angels say: O Allah! Your servant commits every sin and we are ashamed of his wrongdoing. Allah reveals to them: Take your wings off from him. Then that servant begins enmity with the Prophet's Household (a.s) and his reverence is violated in the heavens and the earth. The angels say: O Allah! Your servant's reverence is violated. The Almighty reveals to them: If I attended to him, I didn't order you to take your wings off him!
A pious believer, who remembers Allah and the Resurrection Day, knows the inauspicious signs of committing sins, and loathes sins apparently and secretly, is a viable human. And a sinner, who is ignorant of Allah and the Resurrection Day, and doesn't fear sins, is actually a dead person.
Sins Tearing off Reverence
The great narrator of traditions, Shaykh ¯ad£q, in his “Ma'ani Al-Akhbar” has narrated a very important tradition from Imam ZAyn Al-'Abidin (a.s) on the inauspicious signs of sins. Part of the tradition explains the part of Du`¡’ Kumayl all the phrases of which begin with “اللهم اغفر لي الذنوب التي” (O Allah! Forgive me the sins that…):
The sins that tear off human reverence are: 1. Drinking intoxicants. 2. Gambling. 3. Useless act and speech for making people laugh. 4. Reference to people's deficiencies. 5. Accompanying the alleged sinners.
Drinking Intoxicants
Imam M£s¡ Ibn Ja'far, Imam al-Ri¤¡, and Imam al-Jaw¡d (a.s) have considered drinking intoxicants as a major sin. The great Eastern and Western scientists have proved that drinking intoxicants has harmful effects on the brain, stomach, liver, heart, kidney, respiratory and circulation tracts, human mind and progeny. Sometimes the resulting diseases are impossible to cure and the drinker is doomed to death.
The wine bottle is a dangerous and harmful enemy to human being, and an impure and foul thing.
The Holy Qur’¡n has considered drinking intoxicants as impure, filth, and the act of Satan. Qur’¡n also knows its harms much more than its benefits. Allah has made it unlawful for all people, because of its harmful effects, and He would punish the drinkers severely in this world and the Hereafter, except that the drinker could take repentance.
The Messenger of Allah (s.a) has cursed ten people in relation to the intoxicant liquid: One who plants a tree for it, one who gardens its tree, one who extracts the grape or other fruits for it, one who has drunk it, one who is the cupbearer, one who has delivered it with his animal, one who has taken it from the porter, one who has sold it, one who has bought it, and one who has consumed the money earned in this way.
يَأتِي شَارِبُ الخَمْرِ يَوْمَ القِيامَةِ مُسْوَدٌّ وَجْهُهُ مُدْلِعاً لِسَانَهُ، يَسِيلُ لُعَابُهُ عَلَى صَدْرِهِ، وَحَقَّ عَلَى اللهِ أنْ يَسْقِيَهُ مِنْ بِئْرِ خَبَالٍ... بِئْرٍ يَسِيلُ فِيها صَدِيدُ الزُّناةِ.
In the Hereafter, the intoxicant drinker enters the Resurrection Scene with his face black, his mouth crooked, and his tongue out of his mouth, and he cries from thirst. He is drunk from a well into which the impurity of the adulterers is poured.
Imam ¯¡diq (a.s) has stated:
شَارِبُ الخَمْرِ كَعابِدِ الوَثَنِ.
Drinking intoxicants equals idolization.
Imam B¡qir (a.s) has stated:
إنَّ شَارِبَ الخَمْرِ يُحْشَرُ كَافِراً وإنَّهُ رَأسُ المَعَاصِي.
A drinker would be considered as a disbeliever in the Resurrection Day. Intoxicant liquids are the foundation of all sins!
Amir Al-Mu'minin, Imam `Al¢ (a.s) was asked: “Have you said that wine is worse than theft and adultery?” Imam confirmed and stated: “An adulterer may not commit any other sin, but when someone drinks wine, he commits adultery, murder, and he quits prayer!”
The Messenger of Allah (s.a) stated:
مَنْ شَرِبَ الخَمْرَ بَعدَ مَا حَرَّمَهَا اللهُ عَلَى لِسَانِي فَلَيْسَ بِأهْلٍ أنْ يُزَوَّجَ إذَا خَطِبَ وَلا يُشَفَّعَ إذَا شَفَعَ ولا يُصَدَّقَ إذَا حَدَّثَ وَلا يُؤْتَمَنَ عَلى أمَانَةٍ؛ فَمَن إئْتَمَنَهُ بَعْدَ عِلْمِهِ فَلَيْسَ الَّذِي ائْتَمَنَهُ عَلَى اللهِ ضَمَانٌ وَلَيسَ لَهُ أجْرٌ وَلا خَلَفٌ.
One who drinks wine after Allah has announced its prohibition to me, does not deserve a positive response to his request. The intercession of a drinker is not accepted. His speech is unacceptable. He is not a trustee, so if something is given in his trust, there is no guarantee for it from Allah.
Gambling
Gambling is among the major sins. Imam ¯¡diq (a.s) has considered it a major sin in an important tradition.
The holy Qur’¡n has only considered wine and gambling as major sins:
يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنْ الْخَمْرِ وَالْمَيْسِرِ قُلْ فِيهِمَا إِثْمٌ كَبِيرٌ.
They will question you concerning wine, and arrow-shuffling. Say: In both is heinous sin. (2:219)
Making any gambling tools, getting money from them, buying, and selling them are prohibited in Islam. Most Shi'a jurisprudents consider playing with them as unlawful, even if winning and losing is not a matter. Keeping the gambling tools is unlawful and destroying them is necessary. Attending in a gambling circle and watching it are unlawful and leaving the place is a must.
Useless Acts for Amusing People
By useless acts here, it is meant doing things that have no worldly or heavenly benefits for the performer and the audience, and are complete waste of lifetime, every minute of which is provided by the help of millions of factors for the human being.
Wastage of valuable time is undoubtedly an instance of ungratefulness. The lifetime is among the greatest blessings Allah has bestowed on humans. To be grateful for this blessing, one should spend his lifetime worshipping Allah, serving his servants, and obtaining knowledge.
Muhaddith Qumi in his book “Manazil Al-Akhira” narrates: A man called Ibn Samad continuously calculated the past nights and days of his life. One day, he was counting his previous time, which seemed to him as sixty years. He counted the days of his life as twenty one thousand and nine hundred. This made him call out: “Woe betide me! If I have done at least one sin a day, I would meet my Lord with twenty one thousand and nine hundred sins.” Saying this, he fainted and then passed away.
Reference to People's Deficiencies
Keeping the face of Moslems and believers is an important fact and highly attended to in Islam, to the extent that in Islamic teachings a believer's face has considered equal to his blood:
عِرْضُ المُؤمِنِ كَدَمِهِ.
By disgracing people, there will be no trust among people. The family and society systems would collapse and Moslems' affairs would be disordered.
Only the prophets and Imams are without deficiency and fault. All other people have faults that are hidden from others' sight. Though there are some individuals who are not afraid of spreading their faults, most people value their public face and dislike to spread their faults.
As a result, those who refer to people's physical, moral, behavioral, verbal, material, or religious deficiencies and disgrace them, commit major sins, and are doomed to disgrace in this world and chastisement in the Hereafter.
It is narrated from Imam al-B¡qir and Imam ¯¡diq (a.s):
أقْرَبُ مَا يَكُونُ العَبْدُ إلَى الكُفْرِ أنْ يُؤاخِيَ الرَّجُلَ عَلَى الدِّينِ فَيُحْصِي عَلَيْهِ عَثَراتِهِ وَزَلاَّتِهِ لِيُعَنِّفَهُ بِهَا يَوماً ما.
The nearest act to disbelief is to make a religious fraternity with a man to remind him of his faults, and then blame him for his faults.
Imam ¯¡diq (a.s) has narrated from the Messenger of Allah (a.s):
يَا مَعْشَرَ مَنْ أسْلَمَ بِلِسَانِهِ وَلَمْ يُخْلِصِ الإيمَانَ إلَى قَلْبِهِ! لا تَذُمُّوا المُسْلِمِينَ وَلا تَتَّبِعُوا عَوْراتِهِمْ، فإنَّهُ مَنْ تَتَبَّعَ عَوْراتِهِمْ تَتَبَّعَ اللهُ عَوْراتِهِ، وَمَنْ تَتَبَّعَ اللهُ تَعَالَى عَوْراتِهِ يَفْضَحْهُ وَلَوْ فِي بَيْتِهِ.
O You who have embraced Islam verbally but not whole-heartedly! Do not blame Moslems and chase their faults! Because anyone who chases Moslems' faults Allah will chase his faults. And if Allah chases someone's faults, He will disgrace him, though he is in his home.
Accompanying the Alleged Sinners
Humans are impressed by their companions more than by other things. A companion makes the most powerful impression on human, hence the Holy Qur’¡n verses and traditions of the Prophet's Household (a.s) give people important guidelines for making friends, especially to the believers.
Explaining this fact that appears in the verses and traditions requires a separate discussion. Fortunately, Islamic scholars have authored valuable works in this regard.
The holy Qur’¡n and the traditions prevent people from accompanying the disbelievers, wrongdoers, the Jews, and even alleged sinners, to prevent the harmful effects of their culture, ethics, and evil ideas on human, and deprivation from Allah's Mercy.
Imam ¯¡diq (a.s) stated:
لاَ يَنْبَغِي لِلمُؤمِنِ أنْ يَجْلِسَ مَجْلِساً يُعْصَى اللهُ فِيهِ وَلا يَقْدِرُ عَلى تَغْيِيرِهِ.
It is not deserved for a believer to attend a circle in which Allah is disobeyed, and he is not able to prevent it.
Abu Hashim Ja'fari says: Imam al-Ri¤¡ (a.s) told me: “Why is it I see you with Abdul Rahman Ibn Ya'qub?” I said: “He is my uncle.” Imam (a.s) said: “He says an unacceptable thing about Allah; something which is not in accord with Qur’¡nic verses and the traditions. He describes the Almighty as the objects. So either accompany him and leave us, or be our companion and leave him alone.” I said: “He has his own ideas, and does not harm me. If I don't accept his ideas, I would have no responsibilities.” Imam (a.s) stated: “Don't you fear that a chastisement be sent upon him, and take you both? Have you heard of the one who was a disciple of Moses (a.s) and whose father was a disciple of Pharaoh? When the Pharaoh army reached Moses (a.s) and his followers beside the river, the son left Moses (a.s) to advise his father and join him to the followers of Moses. The father was following Pharaoh and the son was chasing him and quarrelling with him about his ideas. When they reached the edge of water they were both drowned. When Moses was informed of this, he said:” Allah's Mercy is upon him, but when Allah's chastisement descends those beside the wrongdoers would have no safety.”
The Commander of Believers (a.s) stated:
مَنْ كَانَ يُؤمِنُ باللهِ وَاليَوْمِ الآخِرِ فَلا يَقُومُ مَكَانَ رِيبَةٍ.
Anyone who believes in Allah and the Resurrection Day would not stand in a doubtful and accusing position.
Imam ¯¡diq (a.s) stated:
مَنْ قَعَدَ عِنْدَ سَبَّابٍ لأوْلِيَاءِ اللهِ فَقَدْ عَصَى اللهَ تَعالى.
One who accompanies those who curse Allah's friends, have certainly disobeyed Allah.
Jesus Christ (a.s) stated: “Show your friendship with Allah by loathing the sinners; you will approach Allah's Grace by retreating them.” He was then said: “O Spirit of Allah! Who should we accompany?” He responded: “Accompany someone whose company reminds you of Allah, whose speech increases your knowledge, and whose behavior make you desire the Hereafter.”
The veils that exist between man and Allah's chastisement and wrath are piety, chastity, honesty, worship, and serving. These veils remain if man abstains from doing the above-mentioned sins. If human is tempted by the temptations of apparent and hidden Satans, and pollute himself with sins, he has tore off these veils and hindrances, making the way open for the calamities and chastisements.
اللَّهُمَ اغْفِرْ لِىَ الذُّنُوبَ الَّتِى تُنْزِلُ النِّقَمَ
O Allah! Forgive me the sins which bring down adversities!
source : a commentary on Kumayl Supplication
