The Impact of Sins on our Souls

Sall-Allahu wa sallim 'alayka Ya Rasul Allah wa a'la ahli baytih, al-ma'sumin, al-muntajabina. Ya laytanaa kunna ma'akum saadati fanafuza ma'ana fawzan adhima. 'A'udhu bi Illahi min al-shaytaan al-la'in al-rajim, Bismillah Al-Rahman Al-Rahim. "Kalla bal raana 'alaa qulubihim ma kanu yaksibun" (83:14). Amanna bi Illahi, sadaqa Allahu al-Aliyyu al-Adhim. Aflaha man salla 'alaa Muhammad wa aali Muhammad. [Allahumma salli 'alaa Muhammad wa 'aali Muhammad]. For the love of Aba 'Abdillah al-Husayn with the loudest of our voices, Sallu 'ala Muhammad wa 'aali Muhammad [Allahumma Salli 'ala Muhammad wa aali Muhammad]. For the love of Imam Sahibu al-'Asri wa az-Zaman arwahunaa lahu al-fidaa [may our souls be sacrificed for him] Sallu 'ala Muhammad wa 'aali Muhammad [Allahumma Salli 'ala Muhammad wa aali Muhammad].

Once again, we thank Almighty Allah Subhana wa Ta'ala, for granting us another night, another moment, an opportunity to continue to acquire the understanding of our religion and to continue to strengthen our love for Allah Subhana wa Ta'ala in this Holy month of Ramadhan.

As you can see, respected brothers and sisters, the holy month of Ramadhan is coming to an end, and it is so important and emphasised within the religion of Islam, based on the teachings of Ahlul Bayt, that we should try as much as we can to make good use of the last nights of this Holy month of Ramadhan. We should not allow the month to come to an end without being granted the forgiveness of Allah Subhana wa Ta'ala.

Therefore, the teachings of Rasul Allah taught us: 'Ash-shaqiyyu man hurima ghufraanu Allah fi Shahri Ramadhan.' The worst person is the one who is denied the forgiveness of Allah in this Holy month of Ramadhan. Because you realise that in the Holy month of Ramadhan, the Mercy of Allah, as we always mentioned, is unlimited. So therefore, Allah expects from each and every one of us to compete in getting that Mercy and Forgiveness of Allah Subhana wa Ta'ala.

Our topic for discussion tonight will be the impact of sins on our souls. As you know brothers, Allah out of his infinite Mercy and the love He has for each and every one of us, provided us with two ways. Where Qur'an highlights, "Inna [Ya] hadaynaahum najdayn,' (90:10) "Imma shaakiran wa imma kafura. (76:3). Allah said 'We have provided them with two ways, two paths, two directions, it is either to be grateful to Allah, or to become ungrateful to Allah Subhana wa Ta'ala.' And you find in Surat ul-Kahf Allah mentions "Faman shaa'a fal-yu'min, wa man shaa'a fal-yakfur." (18:29). The one who please, and if you like, you become ungrateful to Allah, and if you like, you become grateful to Allah Subhana wa Ta'ala.' So Allah, He has shown us the way, the way to the right path and to the wrong one.

Therefore, let us discuss about the impact of sins on our souls. How sins destroy us and how sins take us away from Allah, and how sins take us away from Husayniyyat, and how sins take us away from masaajid, and how sins take us away from the recitation of the glorious Qur'an, and how sins beautify the wrong things to us.

Now, we all know the definition of sin within the religion of Islam. It is a very simple definition. They said when we talk of a sin, it is 'mukhaalifatu amri ash-shar'i.' It is to go against the order of Shari'ah. Ya'ni, to go contrary to the teachings of Allah Subhana wa Ta'ala. Allah tells you: do this and you decide to do it the other way. Allah tells you: sit here and you decide to do it the other way.

Therefore, Imam Ja'far Al-Sadiq 'alayhi as-Salah wa as-salaam, mention 'You are not one of my Shi'a, you the one who does not obey our teachings and our command.' You may claim to be a Shi'a, but the criteria of being a true Shi'a from the teachings of Imam Al-Ja'far 'alayhi as-Salah wa as-salaam, is that one has to be obedient to Allah Subhana wa Ta'ala. You cannot take something out of the teachings of Allah and ignore other things out of the teachings of Allah.

Ya'ni, 'hafista shay'an wa ghaba anka 'ashyaa.' You have memorised something and many things you have lost it, you cannot do that within the region of Islam. Imam said if you want to call yourself a Shi'a, you should be the one who is willing and ready to follow the command of Allah and the teachings of Ahlul Bayt 'alayhimu as-Salah wa as-salaam.

Now you find that now and then we take sins for granted. You will find a youth, a brother or a sister, or you find a gentleman or a lady, sometimes when you want to commit a sin and you tell him, you know, this is very dangerous, he says 'Aah, it is not a big deal, Allah is Ghafuru Ar-Rahim.' Allah, my brothers and sisters is Ghafuru ar-Rahim so long as you meet the requirement of that 'ghufraan' of Allah.

Some people, when they commit sins and they do wrongs, and you tell them, my sister be careful, my brother be careful, they tell you no, I am a follower of Ahlul Bayt. Riwaayah said, 'Man mata alaa hubbi aali Muhammad maata maghfur-Allah.' [whoever dies and has the love of the Progeny of Muhammad, dies as if one who has been pardoned by Allah]. People justify their sins by leaning on this riwayaat of Ahlul Bayt. No doubt these riwaayaat are authentic, but you have to fill in certain requirement before you achieve that Shafa'a from Ahlul Bayt.

Example. Our beloved Imam, the 6th Imam, imam Ja'far Al-Sadiq 'alayhi as-Salah wa as-salaam. People came to Imam and they claim to get the Shafa'a of Ahlul Bayt. Imam Ja'far said, 'La yanalu shafa'atana man istakhaffa bi as-Salah. He will never and ever obtain our Shafa'a who undermines his or her Salah.' Common Salah! If you do not pray properly, Imam Al-Ja'far 'alayhi as-Salah wa as-salaam said, you are far away from the Shafa'a of Ahlul Bayt.

Therefore I always tell myself and brothers and sisters, to be a Shi'a, it's a mountain to climb. You can claim to be 'muhibb'[lover] and 'muwaali'[follower] of Ahlul Bayt. But to become a Shi'a, Shi'a are like Salman al-Farsi. Shi'as are like Maytham al-Tammar, Shi'as are like Hijr ibn Adi al-Kindi. These are the Shi'as who were ready and more than willing to implement the teachings of Ahlul Bayt 'alayhim us as-Salah wa as-salaam.

Now it is so important that you, as a Muslim, as a believer, whenever you commit a sin, you should ponder upon those sins. You know, somebody came to one of our beloved Imam and he said to Imam 'I attend Majaalis, about Qiyamah is being recited, about Ahlul Bayt is being recited, but I find my face dry, I don't cry. Even when I commit a sin, I do not regret.'

You know, what was the response of our Imam? Imam said, 'ma jaffat id-dumu' illa li qaswat il-qulub, wa ma qassat il-qulub, illa li kathrat idh-dhunub.' Imam said 'You know why your eyes are dried when you commit sin?' We take it for granted, it is not a big deal, it's nothing. Allah is Ghafuru ar-Rahim, why you disturb us so much? La! La! Imam said 'Your eyes are dried because the heart is rusted, and the heart is rusted because of the sins you have accumulated.'

So therefore, let us look at three, only three effects of sins on our souls. The first effect of sin on our soul, whatever the sin might be. It may be a big sin, it may be small sin. So long as you commit that sin and you continue to commit that sin. The first is 'Dhulmat ur-ruh wa iswidaad ul-qalb.' Ya'ni, 'Sin will make your soul dark.' It will bring some darkness into your soul. And you know when there is darkness in your soul, you do not see anything. Therefore some scholars are even of the view that the danger of a sin is such that even if you ask for forgiveness of Allah and you are forgiven by Allah, that darkness may still continue to be there on your soul and your heart.

It is like when you make a 'Ibadah, ubudiyyah li-Llah. You perform your salah, you recite Qur'an, you recite munajat, you do so many 'Ibadah, it illuminate your soul and it illuminate your heart. Therefore you find Allah Tabaraka wa Ta'ala said "Faman yuridi Allahu an yahdiyah, yashrah sadrahu lil Islaam, wa man yurid Allah ana yudillah, yaj'al sadrahu dhayyiqan harajan ka annama yassa' 'adu fi as-samaaa."(6:125). Allah mention in Qur'an. 'If Allah desires good for you, He opens your heart to receive Islam and implement the teachings of Islam.'

So one of the negative impact of sin on our souls is that it brings darkness to our soul, and when darkness is in our soul, Imam Al-Ja'far mentions 'Idhaa adhnaba 'abdun, kharaja fi qalbihi nuqtatun sawdaa.' When a person commit a sin, the moment you commit a sin, no matter what the sin is, a black spot appears on your heart. And if you commit again, another black spot, if you commit again, another black spot. Imam said 'Fa in taaba in mahat wa in adaah adaah. 'If you ask for forgiveness and you are forgiven by Allah, then Allah will remove that black spot, but if you go back to that sin again, that black spot will come.'

Therefore, Allah in Qur'an said "Kalla bal rana 'ala qulubihim ma kanu yaksibun."(83:14). Allah said no, this 'kalla' in, in nahwu, they call it idraab al-intikaal. Ya'ni Allah said, not the way you think, then He give you another reason. He said your sins has made your souls to be dark. And when one's soul is dark, I want you to assess yourselves also when you go back home. You don't enjoy the worship. When du'a is being recited, you feel is too long. When you are reciting Salah, you feel it's boring. When Qur'an is being recited, you feel this is too much. When du'a is recited, you feel this is not for me man, I will attend later.

Wa Allahi, don't take it for granted, this is as a result of sins that you have accumulated. It darkens the heart, so you do 'laa tatalazzaz bil 'Ibadah, you do not enjoy the ''Ibadah'. You feel the ''Ibadah is a burden. How many of us it is like that? Salat time adhaan will come, nobody cares. Salat will start, nobody cares. Later on somebody will come. I was giving some of our brothers, example last night where I had a lecture somewhere. Imam Amir ul-Mu'minin entered a mosque and he found someone making Salah, 'Allahu Akbar, sami'a-llahu liman hamidah, Allahu Akbar, sami'a-llahu liman hamidah'. When he finished, Imam called him, Imam told him 'You have stolen the taste of your soul.' Then he ask Imam 'What do you mean I have stolen the taste of my soul?' Imam said, 'Know that you have two types of thieves; we have a physical material thief and you have spiritual thief. Imam Amir said physical thief is the one who steals your money. You put something there, he takes, that is physical and that is not a problem.

The problem is the one who steals the taste of his soul, whereby you making 'Ibadah, you don't enjoy'. 50 years performing Salah, 30 years we have been making 'Ibadah, hundred years you have been making Salah. Every day Zuhr, Asr. You think that the aim. The aim is not there, the aim is to enjoy Salah when you enter into Salah. The aim is to enjoy the recitation of Qur'an to such an extent you do not want to stop reciting the Qur'an. Therefore, Rasul Allah says, 'Allah instills the love of Salah in my heart, like the way he instills in the love of food in the heart of a hungry man and the love of water in the heart of a thirsty man'. Then Imam [The Prophet] said 'When a hungry man eats food, he becomes satisfied, and when a thirsty person drinks water, it quenches his thirst, but I, Rasul Allah do not get satisfied of worshipping Allah.'

So therefore, the first impact of sin on our souls, brothers and sisters is that darkness. So when you see yourself, you do not have a 'jazbah'-'attraction' towards 'Ibadah, you must get worried. You should not take it for granted, Wa-Llaahi Al-Adheem. Don't take it for granted because sometimes youth, shabaab take it for granted, nothing. Nothing. During their time they enjoy. Let me enjoy. No, no, no, no. There is no time, time is too short. So the first impact of a sin it drops that.

The second one is istidraaj. Istidraaj means what? The more you do sin, the more sin beautifies other sins for you. It makes you to get used to committing a sin and you don't want to stop anymore. And the more you continue, the more you become bold in committing sin. Therefore, the second impact of a sin on our soul is that it urges you to commit more sin. You do not feel any shy.

I give an example. Sometimes you find a person, the first day you commit a sin, you feel it heavy here. You get so much worried because I have committed such a sin but when you continue committing it it becomes like nothing. So one of the negative impact of sin on our souls is that it makes us enjoy committing a lot of sins.

Therefore Rasul Allah mentions: 'Ashaddu adh-dhunub mastahaana bihi saahibuh. The worst case of a sin is when a person undermines the sin'. You commit a sin, to you it's nothing. I don't wear hijab, it's not a problem. I disrespect my father, it's not a problem. I talk to an elderly person anyhow, it's not a problem. I talk too much in the mosque, it's not a problem. This is as a result of a sin, it's not normal. Once you engrossed in committing a lot of sin, what will happen? You will get istidraaj, whereby you enjoy committing the sin and when you commit a sin, to you is the same.

Therefore Imam Al-Ja'far, alayhi as-salat wa as-salaam, said, 'Mu'min is the one when he commits a sin, even if that sin is as smaller than an atom, it will feel like the Jabal of Abi Qubays [mountain of Abu Qubays] on his heart.' You know Jabal Abi Qubays, it's a very big mountain. Imam Al-Ja'far said, 'A mu'min when he commit a sin, very small sin, it will be like this big mountain is on his chest. But he said 'munafiq' [hypocrite] is the one 'Man idhaa adhnaba.' If he commit a sin, it's like a fly passing by his nose and he did like this with his hand [action of swiping of nose]. This Imam Al-Ja'far alayhi as-salat, wa as-salaam. Munafiq is the one when he commit a sin, it is nothing to him.

So therefore today, you find sins are normal in our communities. We deceiving one another, we are undermining our parents, we talk to people anyhow. Salah, we are not taking it seriously, hijab is not being taken seriously, hijab is backwardness. Islam is just secondary one, it is not primary anymore. This not normal brothers and sisters. We need to be careful because these sins will keep on destroying us inside.

Therefore, somebody come to Imam Amir ul-Mu'minin and cried to Amir and said 'Ya Imam I have been trying to wake up at night for tahajjud for many years but I am failing. I cannot wake up even for two rak'ah. Imam said 'You know why? You have been committing a lot of sins and you have been undermining that sin. As a result of that sin, you will not get the tawfiq to stand at night to worship Allah.' So therefore, the second impact of sins on our soul is that it makes us to enjoy committing the sin as if nothing is happening.

The last one is that once you continue to commit a sin, a sin will create a fire around you. You know, our daily errands, you go out of your house in the morning, you do a lot of activities. In the course of these activities, you buy your fire and you buy your jannah at the same time. When you go out in the morning, maybe 12 hours, you spend every day before you get back home, 10 hours. You buy your jannah and you buy your hell at the same time, without your consent because all the activities that you go through in your life is either positive or negative.

If it is positive, you get reward from Allah, if it is negative, you get punishment. So therefore, we are told when you commit a sin and you engrossed in, even if that sin is too small, therefore they say, 'Laa yakfur ul-insaana bil ma'siyah innama yakfuru bi istikhfaa fil ma'siyah. 'You do not become kafir by committing a sin, but you can become a kafir by undermining a sin'. This is nothing, so when you continue doing that it will create a flame around you.

This is where Imam Zayn ul-Abideen made du'a in one of his munajat, where Imam alayhi as-salat, wa as-salaam said, 'Allahumma dhallil 'ala dhunubi bi ghamaami rahmatik'. Imam said, 'Ya Allah, shade my sins, or cover my sin with the cloud of Your Mercy.' Because when you continue to commit a lot of sins, what will the sin do? It will create a flame of fire around you, and if it clear. If it does like that, then you will not see the light of Allah Subhana wa Ta'ala.

Therefore, in conclusion brothers and sisters, tonight is a night of a'maal, I do not want to take much of your time. Du'a Kumayl, we recite every week. On a night like this we all recite Du'a Kumayl. You find a portion in Du'a Kumayl where Imam Amir ul-Mu'minin dedicated it to sin, and the repercussions of sin. I give you just one example, Imam said, 'Allahumma aghfirli adh-dhunub allati tahtiku al-'isam. Allah, forgive me those sins that tear apart safeguards.' You know, you become vulnerable, prone to every sin. Sometimes you commit a sin, and when a sin comes to you, you commit again.

Imam said there are sins when you commit them, they will make you vulnerable. Every friend will influence you, every brother will influence you, every sister will influence you. You go to university, you easily influenced. A brother smokes, he gives you to smoke, drink, you start drinking. It like that. She doesn't wear a hijab, the moment you realise you are not wearing hijab anymore. You backbite, the moment he sit with you, you start backbiting. You undermine people, the moment you sit, you start undermining, belittling people. You know there are sins like that, it tears apart our safeguard completely.

Imam Al-Ja'far, alayhi as-salat, wa as-salaam, outlines five sins, if you commit them, it will destroy you entirely, and you will be vulnerable to all sins. One of them, Imam, said, 'shurb ul-khamr,' drinking'[intoxicants]. Today you find some of our youngsters, they just want to take a sip of alcohol. Imam said it will tear apart your safeguard and you become vulnerable and prone to sins completely.

Number two, Imam said, ' la'ibu al-qimaar, gambling'. If you are into gambling, Imam said, it tear apart safeguard, it makes you very vulnerable. And the third one, Imam 'alayhi as-salaam said 'al-lahw at-tahrij, entertainment, unlawful entertainment.' Places of music, places of dancing, you go there, it tear apart your safeguard.

And the fourth one, Imam said, 'tasaqqut 'uyubin naas, is to expose the fault of others in front of others.' Once you do that, it tear apart your safeguard. And the last one, Imam said, 'mujaalasatu ahlil ma'asiy, sitting and associating with people who indulge into sins.' Sometimes you go around with our friends, we hang around, as they said we chill. Once they commit sin, you should be able to get out of that place if you cannot make 'amr bil ma'ruf'. Imam Amir ul-Mu'minin said, 'When you find yourself at a place where people are committing wrongs against Allah, if you can stop it, talk to them to stop. If you cannot stop it, don't stay there, because if you stay there, you are part of that sin,' according to Imam Amir ul-Mu'minin.

And therefore, in conclusion, this is my last advice to all of you brothers and sisters, especially our youth. Prophet mentioned, 'Benefit from five before five comes, 'shabaabuka qabla haramik.' This youth stage, it is the most important stage of your life. It's the most expensive part of your life as youth. Prophet said, 'Benefit from it, before you become old.' How do you benefit from it? Salah, 'Ibadah, commit yourself to Islam, commit yourself in promoting the teachings of Ahlul Bayt, alayhimu as-salat, wa as-salaam, contribute towards the teachings of Ahlul bayt. 'shabaabuka qabla haramik.' This youth stage is what we will be questioned of on the Day of Qiyamah. When you hear question, question, question on the Day of Qiyamah, it will be of this stage because this stage you are healthy, you are very smart, you are educated, you have all the energy.

You don't go to the mosque and worship when you are old, you cannot sit properly, that one Allah forgives you. At this age, rush, compete in worshipping in Allah, compete in trying to reach out to people and trying to seek that nearness to Allah. Do away with laziness in your life. Be more and more conscious of the teachings of Allah. Be more worried about the steps you take in your life, because that is very, very important. Allah view you as a youth with a special viewing altogether.

And then he mention 'sihhatuka qabla saqmik.' Rasul Allah said 'Benefit from your health before you become sick.' When you are healthy, make good use of that opportunity, worship Allah, do something for Islam, do something for the School of Thought of Ahlul Bayt because when you become sick, you cannot do anything.

And the third one he said, ' faraaghika qabla mal'ik,' ya'ni 'Your timing before you become busy.' Because when you are busy, you cannot do anything. So now you are at university, you have enough time. Serve the School of Thought of Ahlul Bayt, try to wake up for tahajjud, recite Qur'an, respect the elders, respect Islam, cherish the work that Ahlul Bayt left for us. Contribute towards the youth movement which is to enliving the School of Ahlul Bayt, become a 'shaab' of Qur'an, youth of Qur'an, youth of Salah, youth of Muhammadi, Fatimi and Alawi. This is the time to do that.

Wa Allah! If you allow it to pass, you cannot make it up! And I am telling you out of my experience, so therefore this Saturday you all come In shaAllah I will share with you how I became a Shi'a and a follower of Ahlul Bayt. And I will share a lot of experience with you of da'wah on how to remain steadfast on the full. Because today you may lose your Iman without your consent. You may be dreaming, I am a born Shi'a, my father is Shi'a, my mum is Shi'a but by the time you realise this, Iman is being taken away from you without your consent, so be alert!

Therefore Rasul Allah said 'When you have time, use that time before you become busy.' And then of course, the fourth one Rasul Allah said, 'Ghinaaka qabla faqrik', when you have wealth, contribute towards the teachings of Islam before you lose what you have'. Because there is no guarantee the money I have now, it will remain with me until the Day of Qiyamah. So therefore I urge you also one and all, contribute to the programme which they are having here, the 'Shabaab al-Sibtayn' for the propagation of the School of Thought of Ahlul Bayt 'alayhimu as-salat, wa as-salaam. And lastly Rasul Allah said, 'Hayaatuka qabla mawtik', benefit from your life before you die'. Because you will regret.

So therefore this is a short advice to myself and to all of you brothers and sisters. Ten days more to go or nine days more to go. Let us make good use of this opportunity and tonight, no doubt, according to Al-marhum Ayatullah al-Khu'i rahmatullahi 'alayhi, tonight is the last night of Qadr, the night of the twenty first. Imam Al-Ja'far said 'It is Laylat ul-'Imdaa, it is the night of the approval of Allah.' Imam Al-Ja'far said 'The night of the nineteenth, you ask, you decide what you want. Night of the twenty first, you either change or reaffirm what you ask on the night of nineteen.' He said 'On the night of the twenty first, twenty third, you relax and wait for the Approval of Allah.'

So a'maal is going to begin, everybody open your hearts. Give Allah yourself and ask Allah sincerely. We have so many problems in our lives, we have so many pains in our life. Our Muslim brothers and sisters are dying across the globe, every single day people are losing their lives. Innocent children in Iraq, in Pakistan, you name them, in Yemen, people are losing their lives. At least we can do one thing for them is to make a du'a for them. We have to make du'a and Wa Allah, the du'a of the one who is in the a'maal of Qadr, If you do it sincerely and you mean it, down deep from your heart, be rest assured the forgiveness will come from Allah and that acceptance will come from Allah. So therefore, when you make your du'a, don't forget us, because Fatimat uz-Zahra taught us 'If you want Allah to accept your dua, pray for the other person -'Al-jaaru, thumma ad- Daar.' Pray for him, pray for your neighbour and InshaAllah, Allah tabaaraka wa Ta'aala will help you.

'Aquli qawli hadha, wa astaghfiru-Llaha li wa lakum wa salli-Llahumma 'alaa Muhammad wa aalihi at-tahirin [Allahumma Salli 'ala Muhammad wa aali Muhammad].