THE WISDOMS BEHIND SIN.

 

Al-Ḥāfidh Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله writes in a beautiful passage in his book Tarīq al-Hijratayn (concerning the actions of the heart) about the different categories of people with relation to their perception of sins.

He describes one such group, when they fall into sin, acknowledge that had Allāh willed He would have certainly protected them and placed a barrier between them and misdeeds. However Allāh removed this barrier and allowed them to fall into sin so that great wisdoms can come into fruition.
He then proceeds to outline more than 30 of these wisdoms, a few are listed below:

 

1) Allāh loves those who are constantly repentant (al-tawwābīn) and rejoices over their repentance.

 

2) In order for the slave to know that he is in dire need of Allāh’s protection.

 

3) Allāh desires that His slave be completely humble and to be in a ‘broken’ state before Him.

 

4) In order for the slave to truly know himself, that he is ignorant and oppressive.

 

5) In order for the slave to recognise Allāh’s extensive clemency and generosity for concealing his sins.

 

6) In order for the slave to know there is no path to salvation except through Allāh’s forgiveness.

 

7) In order for the slave to recognise Allāh’s generosity in accepting his repentance.

 

8)In order to remove the cloak of self-amazement (ʿujb) from the one who done it.

 

9) In order to extract from the slave’s heart servitude (ʿubūdiyyah) to Allāh through fear and those thing that result from it e.g. remorse, crying etc.

 

10) In order to extract from the slave love and gratitude to his Lord, when he turns back to Him in repentance.

 

11) In order to awaken the slave so that he may take precautions against his enemy and his plots.

 

12) There may a hidden illness in the slave’s heart which he is not aware of. When the slave asks for a cure, Allāh from His kindness and subtlety (luṭf) decrees that he commit an evident sin, from which he suffers ‘pain’. When he then takes a beneficial cure for this pain, it also results in the removal of the hidden illness which he did not initially feel.

 

13) In order to make the slave feel the pain of being barred and distant from Allāh due to committing sin, so consequently Allāh will grant him utmost joy, happiness and blessings when he turns to Him with his heart and establishes obedience.

 

14) In order to test the slave – whether he is fit for Allāh’s servitude (ʿubūdiyyah), guardianship and friendship (wilāyah) or not.

 

15) In order to make the slave forget his good deeds, and to make him preoccupied with his misdeeds.

 

16) By recognising one’s sins and mistakes, the slave will not see that he has any favour over another person.

 

17) It necessitates that the slave holds back from delving into the shortcomings of others.

 

18) It necessitates that the slave does good (iḥsān) to others.

 

19) It necessitates that the slave has forbearance and forgives those who harm him.

 

He said رحمه الله , “Doubtless, a heart grows tarnished like brass or silver, and its polish is by the remembrance [of Allāh], which may make it shine like a crystal mirror. So when one neglects the remembrance it tarnishes, and when he returns it shines. Since the heart is tarnished by two things – heedlessness and sin – it is polished by two things: remembrance (dhikr) and asking forgiveness (istighfār).” [al-Wābil]|

 

Do not ever despair in the mercy of your Lord. If you ever slip, get straight back up and immediately turn unto Him. He is al-ʿAfuww, al-Ghafūr – the Forgiving.

 

– The Wisdoms Behind Sin