Shaitan paints our sins black for us. Ashamed of our misdoings, we sometimes despair so much that we fail to recognize Allah’s (swt) mercy and forgiveness. We overlook His love for a repentant sinner. The colossal tragedy of today’s times is that hundreds of people kill themselves, bearing down with the burden of shameful acts that they feel are too much to live with. The remaining sinners stay in that muck, as nobody offers them hope for a new start. Hence, they assume that continuing a life of sin is the only option. And tragically they keep on doing so till they depart from this world in utter loss.
Then, for some others, Shaitan paints their sins a rainbow bright to the extent that they start questioning the existence of Allah (swt). They boldly flaunt their perverted ideas and look disdainfully at others who do not agree with them. They want to replace the truth with falsehood at every cost with the agenda of spreading immodesty. Shaitan deceives them into sinning. Once trapped, they start deceiving themselves and marketing on behalf of Shaitan to rope in more victims. All guidance deflects from them until Allah (swt) seals their hearts, as they consciously opt for heedlessness and their road to Hell.
“It was said to al-Hasan al-Basri (may Allah have mercy upon him): ‘Is none of us ashamed of his Lord for repenting, then returning to sin, then repenting, and then again returning to sin?’ He replied: ‘Shaitan would love to defeat you with this, so do not stop repenting.’”
It does not matter how far and for how long you have gone on the wrong path. But it does matter how fast you turn around – only to find that your Lord was waiting for you all along. Just repent and restart.
The key is to repent and head for a new course of life. And since we are potential and habitual sinners, we must have a clearly drafted plan of life for ourselves. Ustadh Kashif Naseem Dilkusha states: “If you do not plan for Paradise, by default you are heading for Hell.”
Firstly, get to know Who your Creator is. If you knew your Lord, sinning would become difficult. His Divine decrees, plans, love, mercy, and ways of maturing you would grant you the stability and knowledge to stand firmly rooted against all the blizzards.
Secondly, stick to the ways of Sunnah like glue. The beautiful life of the Prophet (sa) and the benefit and wisdom it offers would elevate your status, and sins will no longer be tempting. Who would opt for a shack when one could earn a palace?
Thirdly, painstakingly pick your pastimes and associations (companions). The gateway to sins is who and what you are spending your time with. Regretfully, today our smartphones have become our sin phones. If we are able to guard our private hours, Allah (swt) will protect us from the sins lashed out publically at us.
A scholar has beautifully described the meaning of association. “If a raindrop falling from the sky lands on our palm, it is pure – we can drink it. If it falls into a gutter, it is wasted. If it drops on a hot surface, it perishes. If it descends on a lotus leaf, it shines like a pearl. And if it falls into an oyster, it transforms into a pearl. The drop is the same, but its value keeps changing with what it associates itself with.”
The pleasure from sin comes easily and fades quickly, but the damage it does to your heart is hard to repair and takes a long time to heal. “And they will say: ‘Had we but listened or used our intelligence, we would not have been among the dwellers of the blazing fire!’ Then they will confess their sin. So, away with the dwellers of the blazing Fire!” (Al-Mulk 67:10-11)
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