Effects of Sin
By Shaykh Muhammad Uthman Ghani

It is clear by evidence that the calamities and hardships which are inflicted upon a person are merely because of his own deeds.

The Qur'aan says:

Whatever misfortune falls upon you is because of your own deeds.
(42:30)

Corruption has appeared on land and sea because of the deeds that men have earned.
(30:41)

As far as a man is concerned, his misfortunes are but the consequences of the things he has done. He must bear personal responsibility for them and not throw the blame on others.

We read over and over again in the Qur'aan about the punishment which was inflicted upon disobedient people. It was disobedience and wrong-doing which had taken Shaytaan out from Jannah and casted him down to earth. It was the same disobedience and wrong-doing which had caused him to become accursed.

It was disobedience and wrong-doing which caused the people to drown in flood in the time of Nooh alayhis salaam. It was disobedience and wrong-doing which caused the people of 'Aad to be enveloped in a violent wind that swept them to their deaths. It was the disobedience and wrong-doing of the people of Thamood which caused a blast to come over them. Disobedience and wrong-doing caused the cities of Loot alayhis salaam to be tossed up into the sky, turned over, and then hurled back to earth in a hail of stone. Disobedience and wrong-doing was the cause of the punishment in the form of fire from a canopy of clouds, which was rained down upon the people of Prophet Shu'ayb alayhis salaam. Disobedience and wrong-doing caused Pharaoh and his followers to drown.

It was disobedience and wrong-doing which caused Banoo Israa'eel to become victims of a tribe of fierce warriors who destroyed their homes, violated their honour and caused them to be beset by one disaster after another. It is disobedience and wrong-doing which is why we see Muslims today suffering. If it is not disobedience, then what is it? Allah ta'aalaa says in the Qur'aan: "It was not Allah who wronged them, but they wronged their own souls." (30:9)

We should not think that because we are superior to all the nations before us, we will not be punished for doing wrong. We may be heirs to all ages, in the foremost files of times, but that is no reason for arrogance and disobedience. On the contrary, we should realise what honour, dignity and prosperity they were given, and how they perished when they disobeyed the law of Allah. We shall then feel a sense of humility, and see that it was rebellion that brought them down. Allah was more than just. He was also Merciful. But they brought about their own ruin.

Imaam Ahmad Ibne Hanbal relates a Tradition in which Jubayr Ibne Nufayr radhiyallahu anhu, on the occasion of the Muslim conquest of Persia, sees a companion, Aboo Dardaa radhiyallahu anhu, sitting by himself in tears. When Jubayr radhiyallahu anhu asked him how it was that he could cry on such a blessed day, the day in which Allah Most High had bestowed honour and glory upon Islaam and the Muslims, he replied, "It's a shame Jubayr, that you do not understand. When people neglect the command of Allah ta'aalaa, how wretched and insignificant they become! Look at these people! What majesty was theirs until they neglected the commands of Allah. Now you see them humble and abased."

Some detrimental effects of sins

a. One effect is to be deprived of the inner light which passes through to the heart, which is the real actual knowledge. When a person commits a sin, he extinguishes this light.

b. One effect is to be deprived of the full measure of one's daily sustenance. Rasoolullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam has said, "Indeed, a man is denied of his daily bread due to the wrong he has done."

c. One effect is to feel distress and uneasiness towards sitting in the company of the pious. This then leads him to wander away from such people and their blessings.
d. One effect is that a person finds difficulty in gaining success in his affairs. His endeavours will always result in failures.

e. One effect is that the heart darkens. Abdullah Ibne Abbaas radhiyallahu anhumaa said, "As a result of good deeds, lustre will appear on the face, the heart lightens, daily sustenance is increased, and love in the hearts of others. But as a result of committing sin, the face will grow dull, the heart will go dark, sustenance scarce, and the hearts of others estranged."

f. One effect is being prevented from performing acts of devotion and righteousness.

g. In Saheeh Ahaadeeth, we read that one's age increases as a result of performing good deeds. On the contrary, a person who does wrong deeds, shortens his life span.

h. Another effect is that after committing a sin, a person becomes more habituated and increases in committing sins one after the other.

i. Another of these effects is that the heart becomes hard due to one's evil deeds. After a while, the wrongdoer no longer considers these acts to be evil and cares not in the least if anyone should witness him committing them. Rather, he himself begins to brag about what he has committed. Such a person then, has strayed far from the road to forgiveness. Rasoolullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam said, "There is hope of forgiveness for all, save those who openly do wrong. One instance of open wrong-doing is, after Allah has covered up his misdeed, a person's open proclaiming that a certain time, (with a certain person), he did a certain thing; so that he lifts the veil from his own misdeeds after Allah Most High had favoured him by hiding them." Bukhaari, Muslim.

j. Another effect is that a person becomes despicable and worthless in the sight of Allah ta'aalaa. And when a person has no significance in the eyes of Allah, indeed he becomes insignificant in the sight of the creation. The Qur'aan says, "And whom Allah abases there is none to honour him." (22:18)

k. Another adverse effect is that one's intention to make tawbah (repentance) is undermined, until finally, at the time of death he is deprived of tawbah (repentance).

These are some adverse effects which are to be expected due to wrong-doing. In addition to these, one can find many more in the Qur'aan and Ahaadeeth and if one thinks in his own heart, he can find many external and internal detriments.

Ali radhiyallahu anhu said, "No-one was ever afflicted, but that it was due to his wrong-doing, and no affliction was ever lifted, except through tawbah (repentance)."

May Allah grant you and I and all the Muslims protection from disobedience and wrong-doing.