Adeela Bibi's Key Ideas from Sins
by Haifaa Younis

This book attempts to bridge the gap between the traditional work of our rich and powerful heritage of classical Islamic scholars and the reality of the intensive and busy contemporary times that we currently live in.

Based on classical Islamic resources, such as the Quran and Hadith, primarily the Kuttub al-Sittah, along with books of tazkiyah by classical authors such as Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim, Ibn Al-Jawzi, Abu Talib Al-Makki and others.

Becoming deaf and blind to the guidance of Allah SWT could mean that we hear a verse from the Quran, but it does not affect us in any way. We could hear a Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), yet remain unbothered and unchanged due to the state of our hearts.

Our actions and relationships with others are shaped by our hearts and our relationship with Allah SWT. Let's analyse ourselves, using the law of cause and effect in this world.

Take a moment to reflect on:

• Your heart and its state
• Your way of living
• Your relationships with others and with Allah SWT

A sin can also be understood as:

• Any disobedience to Allah SWT that Allah SWT has forbidden, whether it is major or minor.
• Any action that Allah SWT has deemed punishable in the Quran.
• Any action or offence that goes against moral or religious law.
• Any wrongful action or fault commited against a human being. If we commit a sin against another person, it is by default disobedience towards Allah SWT.

The simple act of taking care of our parents has a profound impact on our future. When our parents pass away, we lose the chance to do good and be by their side.

• Spend quality time with your parents.
• Take care of their needs, whether it's physically or emotionally.
• It's our duty to treat our parents with kindness and love.

Identifying Major Sins is a chapter that outlines a compilation of 70 major sins, in order to give a clear indication of the actions that many of us - knowingly or unknowingly - may take part in or have done in the past.

Once we know what these major sins are, it is vital that we make the intention not to be involved in them again and take all the necessary precautions to follow through with this.

Becoming closer to Allah SWT allows us to practice His attributes, including mercy Tears are a powerful sign of this attribute and can come from hearing or reciting the Quran or talking to Allah SWT privately.

A hardened heart that cannot cry is a sign of wrongdoing and a lack of mercy. We must strive to maintain a soft heart in order to reap the benefits of Allah SWT's mercy.

The Quran mentions the whispering of Shaytan, which means he puts thoughts of wrong actions in our minds. But when we seek refuge in Allah SWT, we grow stronger against his attacks.

But Shaytan will continue to be a part of our lives until death. Seeking refuge in Allah helps us overcome his whispers.

If we look around our surroundings, we will see that evil is often dominant in our societies. Schools, workplaces, and public places are all affected by it, and these actions have become the norm.

If we know that evil is being committed, but do not do anything to prevent it, everyone will suffer the punishments from Allah SWT. We must stand strong, even if we are the only ones taking a stance against it in our local communities.

When our heart is sick, it is usually occupied by one of the 8 points mentioned in the Hadith above.

When our hearts are weak, we become unable to do something that we want to do, even though we know it is good and right. Or we know that something is wrong, yet we still do it. Our hearts will suffer from these issues when they are spiritually dead or sick due to our sins, whether intentional or unintentional, and the distance it creates between us and Allah SWT.