What is sin? Sin
is the disobeying the Commandments of Allah, The Wise and failure to comply
with His Wishes. It is a commission and omission of an action which is
clearly expressed in the Glorious Qur’an and explained by the Noble Prophet
(s.a.w.a.s.). Moreover, there is a Messenger placed by Allah in our hearts-conscious
- which warns us when we are committing a sin. As for the “commission” - an
action which is displeasing to Allah is a sin. As for the “omission” – to avoid
an action which is obligatory (Wajib) is also a sin. In any case, the actions
which are prohibited are for the benefit of mankind. Similarly, the actions
which are obligatory are also for the benefit of man. The entire philosophy of prohibiting and encouraging for different acts
revolves around the health and progress of our “Souls”.
Shaitaan is a
sworn enemy of mankind. He does not order man to commit a sin but lures towards
and man responds. His charms, apart from other temptations, include desire for wealth
and power, and exploitation of sexual drive.
Consequences of
committing sins on the individual basis:
It contaminates and pollutes the
soul; it darkens the soul resulting in withholding many secrets.
After submitting to the satanic
temptations, his heart becomes the dwelling place of Shaitaan.
It is a veil of self-knowledge
resulting in the eternal forfeiture of his life.
It deprives the sinner the
pleasure of worship. The Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) said: “When one commits a
sin, a black speck appears
on his heart; if he repents, his heart will be purified. But if he repeats the
sin, the spot spreads
until it overtakes the entire heart. The excess of sins destroys the heart.”
The infallible Imam Jafar al-Sadiq
(a.s.) said: “I advise you to be pious, to abstain from sins, and to be
diligent in the course of
worship. Be aware; worship without abstaining from sins is sterile
(unproductive).”
The Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) addressed to
Abu Dharr and said: “O’ Abu Dharr, the crux of religion is abstaining from sins and the secret of religion
is obedience to Allah. Those who have relinquished the forbidden pleasures of this world are indeed the friends of
Allah.”
The social effects
of sins:
Sin leads to the social decline and the increase
of crimes. It hinders the activities of the effective individuals of the society due to the far
reaching consequences of the sins, thus obstructing the progress of the
society.
The most effective
weapon of an enemy is to produce heedlessness. Shaitaan makes human beings heedless.
If by Shaitaan’s temptations, a righteous thought is effaced from one’s mind,
he will be at ease.
The ways of
redemption from sins:
Repent and plead for forgiveness. Tawbah
(Repentance) means “To Return”. When a servant returns to his master( Allah), it is said that
he has done tawbah.
Remember our own sins.
Remember Allah as frequently as
possible.
Acquire piety by considering the
temporary life span of this world and the accountability on the Day of Resurrection; seek protection of
Allah from the accursed Shaitan.
Source used:
Faith and Reason by Ayatullah
Mahdi Hadavi Tehrani
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