Do Not Belittle Sin (Part 2)
Penitence and Asking Forgiveness
Imam Jafar Sadiq (A.S) has said “Allah keeps friends with such persons who are penitent after committing sins and pray for His pardon. Allah doesn’t like a person who commits minor sins and remains oblivious of his faults.” Then the Imam (A.S) added, “Fear very much the minor sins that you might commit. Beware, these minor sins may not be condoned!” Someone asked the Imam (A.S), “What are those sins?” The Imam replied, “When a person says after committing a sin,’ how I wish I had not committed any other sin than this!”
Imam Muhammad Al-Baqir (A.S) says that when a person asks for a boon from Allah and just before his prayer is answered he commits a sin; Allah orders the Angels to defer the grant of his wish. Then the Imam (A.S) added, “In certain years some places receive little rainfall. Wherever Allah wishes He sends the rain. When the people of a nation are involved more in sin, the share of rainfall for them is reduced and it is shifted to the high seas and the mountains. While the people of the area are punished for their sins, even the animals and plants suffer for no fault of theirs.” Then the Imam (A.S) added, “O people with wisdom! Take warning from this!”
Imam Jafar Sadiq (A.S) says, “Sometimes because of the ill effect of sins a person veers away from the mandatory prayers.” The Imam (A.S) added, “A person thinks of a sin and commits it thinking that there are many others that do the same. Allah says in this regard,’ By My Majesty and Honour! I shall never pardon him!”
The Prophet of Allah (PBUH) has said, “On the Day of Judgement some people will be incarcerated for a hundred years only for committing one sin! Looking at the comforts enjoyed by the inmates of the Heaven these sinners will feel repentant.”
Imam Muhammad Baqir (A.S) says, “Allah has decided that He will not take away the bounties from a man till he has not committed any sin.”
Amir’ul-Mu’mineen ‘Ali (A.S) has said, “There is no pain more severe for a man than that of sin and there is no fear for him more than the fear of death. For a reminder taking lesson from the experience of the forbears is sufficient.”
Imam Jafar Sadiq (A.S) says, “The sin that causes reduction in the bounties is pride and disobedience of Allah. The sin that brings repentance to a man is the murder of a human being. The sin that brings retribution of Allah is cruelty to others. An example of a sin that is hidden is consumption of intoxicants. The sin that affects the means of livelihood is adultery. The sin that reduces the longevity of a person is depriving the rights of others. The sin that obstructs acceptance of prayers is ill treatment and disobedience of the parents.”
The Prophet of Allah (S) has said, “Allah will torture the tongue more than any part of human body on the Day of Judgement. The tongue will submit, ‘O Allah! Why are you giving more punishment than to the other part of the body?’ Allah will say, ‘O tongue! One word came from you and travelled all through the east and the west. Innumerable disputes and fights raised their heads because of this and caused unfathomable damage to men and material!’
Source: Ain-al-Hayat, By: Allama Muhammad Baqir Majlisi
Other links:
101Dua’a: Dua’a for seeking forgiveness of sins (Dua’a in Sajdah)
Slandering and Talking behind the Back of Others is a Sin
Greater Sin from viewpoint of the traditions (Part 3)
