Are Sins Causes of Eradicating Blessings??

            Sheikh Ibn Baaz  رحمه الله

Question: A sister with the initials 'A' from Riyadh says in her question: 'I read that from the consequences of sinning is punishment from Allaah and the removal of blessings. So I weep out of fear from that, direct me, may Allaah reward you with goodness?'

Answer: No doubt that committing sins are from the causes that draw the Anger of Allaah سُبحانه وتعالى and from the causes of eradicating blessings, drought and the domination of the enemy as Allaah (سُبحانه وتعالى) said:

وَلَقَدْ أَخَذْنَا آلَ فِرْعَونَ بِالسِّنِينَ وَنَقْصٍ مِّن الثَّمَرَاتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَذَّكَّرُونَ

“And indeed We punished the people of Fir'aun (Pharaoh) with years of drought and shortness of fruits (crops, etc.), that they might remember (take heed).”

(Al-A'raf 7:130)

فَكُلًّا أَخَذْنَا بِذَنبِهِ فَمِنْهُم مَّنْ أَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِ حَاصِبًا وَمِنْهُم مَّنْ أَخَذَتْهُ الصَّيْحَةُ وَمِنْهُم مَّنْ خَسَفْنَا بِهِ الْأَرْضَ وَمِنْهُم مَّنْ أَغْرَقْنَا وَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيَظْلِمَهُمْ وَلَكِن كَانُوا أَنفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ
 

“So We punished each (of them) for his sins, of them were some on whom We sent Hasiban (a violent wind with shower of stones) [as the people of Lout (Lot)], and of them were some who were overtaken by As-Saihah [torment - awful cry, etc.], and of them were some whom We drowned [as the people of Nuh (Noah), or Fir'aun (Pharaoh) and his people]. It was not Allaah Who wronged them, but they wronged themselves.” ^[2]

(Al-'Ankabut 29:40)

And Ayaat related to this meaning are many. And it has been authentically reported that the Prophet صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم said:

“A servant is prevented from provision due to a sin that he commits.” ^[1]

Therefore, it is obligatory upon every Muslim, man and woman, to beware of sins and to repent from what has passed, along with having good thoughts of Allaah the Exalted and hope in his forgiveness, and fear his Anger and punishment, as Allaah سُبحانه وتعالى said in His Noble Book about His righteous worshipers:

إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا يُسَارِعُونَ فِي الْخَيْرَاتِ وَيَدْعُونَنَا رَغَبًا وَرَهَبًا وَكَانُوا لَنَا خَاشِعِينَ

“Verily, they used to hasten on to do good deeds, and they used to call on Us with hope and fear, and used to humble themselves before Us.”

(Al-Anbiya 21:90)

He سُبحانه وتعالى said:

أُولَـئِكَ الَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ يَبْتَغُونَ إِلَى رَبِّهِمُ الْوَسِيلَةَ أَيُّهُمْ أَقْرَبُ وَيَرْجُونَ رَحْمَتَهُ وَيَخَافُونَ عَذَابَهُ

"Those whom they call upon [like 'Iesa (Jesus) ­ son of Maryam (Mary), 'Uzair (Ezra), angel, etc.] desire (for themselves) means of access to their Lord (Allâh), as to which of them should be the nearest and they ['Iesa (Jesus), 'Uzair (Ezra), angels, etc.] hope for His Mercy and fear His Torment. Verily, the Torment of your Lord is something to be afraid of!"

(Al-Isra 17:57)

And He سُبحانه وتعالى said;

وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتُ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاء بَعْضٍ يَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَيُقِيمُونَ الصَّلاَةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَيُطِيعُونَ اللّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ أُوْلَـئِكَ سَيَرْحَمُهُمُ اللّهُ إِنَّ اللّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ
"The believers, men and women, are Auliyâ' (helpers, supporters, friends, protectors) of one another, they enjoin (on the people) Al-Ma'rûf (i.e. Islâmic Monotheism and all that Islâm orders one to do), and forbid (people) from Al-Munkar (i.e. polytheism and disbelief of all kinds, and all that Islâm has forbidden); they perform As-Salât (Iqâmat-as-Salât) and give the Zakât, and obey Allâh and His Messenger. Allâh will have His Mercy on them. Surely Allâh is All-Mighty, All-Wise."

(At-Tawbah 9:71)

Along with this, it is legislated for the believer, man and woman. to act upon the causes which were permitted by Allaah سُبحانه وتعالى. By doing so, one combines between fear, hope and acting upon the causes as well as relying on Allaah سُبحانه وتعالى, strongly relying upon him to achieve what is required of him and to be safe from what is feared. And Allaah (The One free from imperfection) is the Jawaad (All-Generous) and al-Kareem (Most-Gracious), He سُبحانه وتعالى said:

وَمَن يَتَّقِ اللَّهَ يَجْعَل لَّهُ مَخْرَجًا

“And whosoever fears Allaah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty).”  

وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَحْتَسِبُ وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَىاللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بَالِغُ أَمْرِهِ قَدْ جَعَلَ اللَّهُلِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدْرًا
"And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine. And whosoever puts his trust in Allâh, then He will suffice him. Verily, Allâh will accomplish his purpose. Indeed Allâh has set a measure for all things."

(At-Talaq 65:2-3)

He سُبحانه وتعالى said:

وَتُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا أَيُّهَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ

“And turn to Allaah in repentance, all of you, O believers, that you might succeed.”  

(An-Nur 24:31)

Therefore, what is obligatory upon you, O my dear sister for Allaah, it is to repent to Allaah سُبحانه وتعالى from your previous sins, and to be steadfast upon His obedience whilst to have good thoughts of him سُبحانه وتعالى, and to beware of the causes of His anger, and glad tidings of abundant of goodness and preparation for a praiseworthy station.

And Allaah سُبحانه وتعالى is the Owner of Success.

________________________________
 [1] Ahmed in his Musnad 5/282. Graded as unauthentic by al-Albaanee)