The
Bitter Consequences of Sins
Imaam
Ibnul-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah
It is essential to know that sins and acts of
disobedience are, necessarily, very harmful. Their harm effects upon the heart
are akin to the harmful effects of poison upon the body, though the effects vary
in their levels and intensities. So is there any evil or harm in this world, or
in the Hereafter, except that it is due to sins and disobedience?
So what was it that expelled the two parents (i.e. Adam and Eve) from
Paradise; the home of delight, bliss, splendor and joy; to the home of pain,
sorrow and misfortune?
What
was it that expelled Iblees from the heavenly realms, causing him to be rejected
and cursed; transforming him both inwardly and outwardly, so that his form
became ugly and hideous - his inner form more hideous than his outer - replacing
his nearness with remoteness, mercy with curse, his beauty with ugliness, from
being in Paradise to being in the blazing Fire, from having faith to being an
unbeliever, from having the patronage and friendship of Allaah, the Praiseworthy
Guardian, to being the greatest enemy and opponent, from glorifying and praising
Him to committing acts of unbelief, shirk, lies, deception and shamelessness,
from being adorned with faith to being clothed in the garment of unbelief,
sinfulness and disobedience, causing him to reach the deepest depths of
despicability, plunging down in the sight of Allaah as far as it is possible to
plunge; causing the anger of Allaah the Exalted to be upon him, making him an
outcast - despised and humiliated - so that he became a leader for every sinner
and criminal, becoming pleased with leadership for himself, after having reached
the station of worship and nobility? O Allaah, we seek refuge in You from
opposing Your command and falling into what You have forbidden. What was it that
caused the people of the earth to drown, to the extent that the water rose above
even the mountaintops?
What
was it that caused the violent winds to overcome the people of ‘Aad, such that
it flung them down dead upon the face of the earth - as if they were lopped-off
palm trunks - and it destroyed whatever dwellings and crops it came across, thus
making them an example for nations until the Day of Resurrection? What was it
that caused the piercing shrieks to be set loose upon the Thamood people, such
that their hearts were severed within their very bodies, by which they all
perished? What was it that caused the town of the homosexuals to be raised up
and turned upside down, such that they were all destroyed? Then stones from the
sky pelted down upon them so that they suffered a combined punishment, the like
of which was not given to any other nation! And for their brothers will be its
like; and it is not far off from the transgressors! What was it that caused the
clouds of punishment to overcome the people of Shu’ayb, such that when these
clouds were above their heads it rained scorching fire upon them?
What
was it that caused the Pharaoh and his people to be drowned in the ocean, and
caused their souls to be transported to the Hellfire, so their bodies drowned
and their souls burned?
What
was it that caused Qaaroon, his dwelling, wealth and family to sink down into
the earth? What was it that caused the destruction of those generations after
Noah, and how they were afflicted with various punishments that caused their
annihilation? What was it that caused the destruction of the companions of Yaa
Seen, with the clamorous shout, which destroyed them? What caused there to be
sent against the Children of Israa’eel enemies of great strength and might,
plundering their homes, killing their men, enslaving their women and children,
burning their dwellings, seizing their wealth, and then returning again a second
time, destroying what was rebuilt after the first onslaught? What was it that
caused the various types of punishments to be set loose upon the Children of
Israa’eel? Killing them, enslaving them, destroying their land and at times
causing them to be oppressed by kings, whilst at another time causing them to be
transformed into apes and swine - and finally the Lord took an oath that:
“He
would certainly keep on sending against them, until the Day of Resurrection,
those who will inflict them with a humiliating torment.” [Sooratul-A’raaf
7:167]
Imam
Ahmad said: al-Waleed Ibn Muslim related to us; that Safwaan Ibn ’Amr related
to us; that ’Abdur-Rahmaan Ibn Jubayr Ibn Nufayr related; from his father, who
said: “When Cyprus was conquered and its people were dispersed and they
started weeping to each other, I saw Abud-Dardaa sitting alone and weeping. So I
said to him: O Abud-Dardaa! What makes you weep on this day that Allaah has
granted strength and honor to Islaam and its people? So he said: Woe be to you O
Jubayr! How insignificant the creation becomes to Allaah when they turn away
from His command. In front of us is a nation who were evidently powerful and who
had dominion, yet they abandoned Allaah’s Command, so look what has become of
them.” [2]
’Alee Ibnul-Ja’d said: Shu’bah Ibn ’Amr Ibn Murrah informed us; I heard
Abul-Bukhtaree say: I was informed by someone, who heard the Prophet (sallallaahu
’alayhi wa sallam) saying:
“The people will not perish, until they have no excuse left for themselves.”
[3]
Imaam Ahmad (d.241H) reports in his Musnad,
from the hadeeth of Umm Salamah, who said: I heard Allaah’s Messenger (sallallaahu
’alayhi wa sallam) saying: “When acts of disobedience become widespread
in my Ummah, then Allaah may send punishment upon them all from Himself.” So I
said: O Allaah’s Messenger! Even if there are righteous people amongst them
that day? So he replied: “Indeed!” So I said: How will that be? He replied:
“They will be afflicted with what afflicts the people, then they will move on
to the forgiveness of Allaah and His good pleasure.” [4]
Footnotes:
[1]
ad-Daa‘ wad-Dawaa‘ (pp. 65-67)
[2]
Saheeh: Related by Imaam Ahmad in az-Zuhd (1/86) with an authentic chain of narration; as stated by
Shaykh ’Alee Hasan al-Halabee in his verification of the book. (p. 67).
[3]
Saheeh: Reported by Ahmad (4/260) and Aboo Daawood (no.4347) with an
authentic chain of narration.
[4]
Reported by Ahmad (6/304) and one of its narrators is Layth Ibn Abee Sulaym, who
is weak. However the hadeeth is
established due to further supporting narrations. Consult Silsilatul
Ahaadeethus-Saheehah (no. 1372) of Shaykh al-Albaanee