I was speaking to a young man and through the conversation I heard him say, “I don’t make du`aa’ anymore.”

I asked him, “Why not?” and he replied, “I made du`aa’ for some things and I never got them so I just gave up!”

I asked him if he was happy in his life, he said, “Not really.” Then I asked him if he felt he needed the mercy of Allah in his life, and at that he replied very enthusiastically, “Of course I do!”

Now this made me think very deeply about some things in life. Is it right that we (mankind in general) go on expecting things from our Creator while we sit down passively, mostly just observing life and hardly doing anything for anyone else unless it somehow fits in with our scheme of things?

Is it right if a kid wants something from his mum and dad but he is doing and saying things they do not like, going out without their permission, dressing in an unacceptable way, not pulling his weight around the house, and so on, then he just come right out and ask for money, or new clothes, or whatever, and then grumble when they refuse, and perhaps adding how unfair life is and how very unreasonable they are?

Let’s look at it another way.

 

Imagine you had someone you called your friend but this person spoke badly about you behind your back and only came hanging around when he wanted something—then one day he comes to you and asks a big favor. Most likely you would tell him to forget it and simply ignore him if he started complaining.

So we all acknowledge that on the human level life is a matter of give-and-take; it’s a matter of rights and responsibilities.

What about your relation with your Creator?

Is it right that we enjoy the bounty of this marvelous creation and, even though everything was created for the benefit of man, we go ahead and make use of things for our own benefit and comfort without thinking of others?

Is it right to fail to give others their rights and expect our rights, and often fail to take care of the creation that Allah provided for us?

How often do you use things that you know will pollute the environment—the same environment that Allah created for you?

We are dropping litter, using chemicals, and generally tapping into the wasteful and excessive way of life in the modern world, without really thinking seriously about our responsibility to yourself, those around us, the world, and our Creator.

Then when we get sick because of the polluted and chemical-filled environment, you turn in desperation to the Lord of all asking for help and healing. Then as soon as we are well again, you go back to the old habits of misusing, if not destroying, the environment.

How Merciful Allah is! Even though you keep making the same mistakes; even though you misuse yourself, others, and the world around you, He still comes to your aid! He, the Almighty, gives you enough opportunity to change, to see the errors of your ways and to make a fresh start.

Have you ever noticed how your body heals as does the environment? So where is your place in all this?

A person can drink alcohol and abuse his body until he gets liver disease—and then blame fate! Likewise a person could neglect the rights of his family and even abuse them when he is in the prime of his life and filled with strength, but when he gets old and is left alone and feeling lonely, he curses life and complains how difficult life is! Do you find that you sometimes do things like this?

Have you ever passed by a river that is polluted and said how awful it is that “mankind” destroys nature? But then haven’t you ever tipped chemicals down the sink that end up in the river system, and somewhere along the line, contributed to this awful state of pollution?

 

What I want to say is that you have to be willing to take your responsibilities seriously. The first step is to realize that Allah has called upon mankind to be the caretakers of this world.

Allah the Almighty said:

{You are the best of peoples ever raised up for mankind; you enjoin what is good, and forbid what is wrong and you believe in Allah…} (Aal-`Imran 3:110)

We have to understand that the nature of this life is not just to make money and live a comfortable life of ease. We have to be willing to give: to give to those around us, our family and friends and our communities; to participate in the voice of society that calls for justice; to speak out against violations against mankind and the earth.

When toxic waste is dumped, what do you do? When logging companies are allowed to destroy one of the last remaining rainforests on earth, what do you do? When people are abused and oppressed, what do you do? If your answer is “nothing.” Then you should think again.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “

Whoever, among you, sees something abominable should rectify it with his hand; and if he has not strength enough to do so, then he should do it with his tongue; and if he has not strength enough to do it, (even) then he should (hate it) in his heart, and that is the least of Faith. “(Muslim)

Allah created us to worship Him, and a part of that worship is to keep within His boundaries—the rules He has provided us with, knowing full well that whatever He has ordered us to keep away from is in fact bad for us.

So imagine a person who is selfish, stubborn, and harsh. He couldn’t care less about the effects of dumping their factory’s toxic waste into any place convenient (for them).

He lives his life trying to make more and more money and gathering up material wealth; he doesn’t really care whose head he steps on to get up the social ladder, and basically he doesn’t really care about anyone except himself.

If such a person prays to the Creator of all—should he expect his du`aa’ to be answered? Listen to what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said about this:

“Allah the Almighty is good and accepts only that which is good. Allah has commanded the Faithful to do that which He commanded the Messengers, as He Almighty has said:

{O ye Messengers! Eat of the good things, and do right. } (Al-Mu’minun 23:51)

And Allah the Almighty has said,

{O ye who believe! Eat of the good things wherewith We have provided you. } (Al-Baqarah 2:172)

Then he mentioned the case of a man who, having journeyed far, is disheveled and dusty and who spreads out his hands to the sky saying: O Lord! O Lord! While his food is unlawful, his drink unlawful, his clothing unlawful, and he is nourished unlawfully, so how can he be answered? ” (Muslim)

Then what about the person who isn’t as corrupt as the above-mentioned person, but in his own way demonstrates weakness and apathy.

Imagine someone who stops trying every time things get difficult; someone who takes on the habit of saying “I couldn’t be bothered” or “I’ll do it later” even though he knows what is right. He knows very well that he should pray and fast, but it just seems too tough in that moment, and he feels he can get his life in order later.

Whenever a problem arises, he takes the easy way out. You’ll never find him standing up for what is right, taking the side of an oppressed person, or in fact, doing any kind of noble deed. Then when he wants something, he prays and when his prayer isn’t answered when and how he wants, he gives up on that, too. Now does that make sense?

What does Allah want from you? Remember He gave you your life, your family and friends, a series of situations, and all the creation around you.

Do you think He gave you all this just for fun and games? Or to realize the reality, understand yourself and your role in life, and appreciate your Creator and spread the message of truth wherever you are?

The mercy of Allah is ever present. It is you who must learn how to tap into that mercy and learn to live your life in a way that will make you deserving of that mercy. The same power that controls the universe promises to turn to you if you turn to Him! It’s like this because your Creator gave you freedom of choice, so you can try to face life either with His help or without it.

Before we can speak of deserting sins, we need to have a good idea of what we mean by “sins.”

From the Islamic point of view, a sin is a conscious and willful act that violates Allah’s rights (i.e. His commandments) or the rights of a fellow being.

On the other hand, we cannot consider a person to be a sinner if he or she is forced to do something prohibited against his or her own will. Likewise, acts done because of some illnesses, such as insanity or obsessive-compulsive disorder, are not sins.

This is because human accountability is an important aspect of justice as envisaged in Islam. And no one can be truly held accountable for an action he or she has no power to resist or avoid, because Allah does not lay more burden on a human than he or she can bear.

The original sin

Islam teaches that sin is an avoidable act that harms the perpetrator’s own soul, so there is no “original sin.” This means that there is no innate or inherited nature that prompts a person to disobey Allah; that is to say, it is a person’s choice whether to sin or not.

Indeed, Islam has a unique view on the subject of sin, one not shared by other religions. According to the Qur’an, Adam and Eve, the first pair of humans, were allowed to live in the heavenly Paradise to enjoy a happy life, but they had been warned not to approach a particular tree so that their happy life would not be disrupted.

But Iblis (Arabic for: Satan) led them into temptation and made them slip into sin. Consequently, they were expelled from Paradise, and thereafter, their destiny was to live on earth until the Day of Judgment.

Both Adam and Eve knew of the seriousness of the sin they committed, and so they repented, and Almighty Allah accepted their repentance and forgave them.

This story given in the Qur’an tells us how imperfect we, the children of Adam, are. And at the same time, it is made clear that the humans are created with a capacity for realizing their lapses and amending themselves.

Almighty Allah, by narrating this story in the Qur’an, makes us aware of the fact that He is Compassionate and Merciful to His creatures, particularly to those who repent and return to Him.

This story also brings to light the idea that humans are susceptible to being influenced by external circumstances. But this does not mean that they are without freedom of choice.

Indeed, they are endowed with free will and intellectual faculties. This makes them responsible for their choices and actions, while freeing them from the burden of hereditary or instinctual sinfulness.

Islam teaches that Almighty Allah does not leave humans helpless in the constant struggle between the forces of good and those of evil; rather, He guides them through His books and Prophets.

Watch out!

It is evident that all kinds of traps and pitfalls surround us in every walk of life. Unless we are careful, the chances are that we may fall into them. So, we need to take great care.

In other words, the obstacles to leading a life of virtue are numerous. There is no wonder that many people continue to lead a life of sin in spite of all the admonitions given in the Qur’an and the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).

Today, as ordinary humans, we find ourselves in the midst of a non-Islamic or even anti-Islamic culture that is deliberately hyped up and flashed about even in the Muslim countries.

Even the educational systems, which are expected to train and groom the future generation into good Muslims, do not serve the purpose, particularly because their objectives are spelled out by “experts” from outside who do not share our commitment to our distinctive culture and worldview.

The net result is that any Islamic schooling the children might have received in their early life is subverted.

Apart from the adverse social situation, there are also certain inner psychological conditions that serve as stumbling blocks to most people who want to eschew sins and lead a life of virtue.

For instance, consider the people’s inclination to gratify their prurient impulses by any expedient means available. This, in fact, may encourage them to deviate into the unsavory by-lanes of life. In such a case, it is only religion that can keep them safe.

A Muslim should steer clear of all sins, major and minor ones. The major sins are those acts that have been clearly forbidden by Almighty Allah in His Qur’an and by the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in his Sunnah.

Allah, the All-Merciful, says,

{If you eschew the most heinous of the things that you are forbidden to do, We will cancel out for you your (other) evil deeds and will admit you (to Paradise) with a noble entry.) (An-Nisaa’ 4:31)

{Those who avoid the greatest sins and indecencies save the oversights (will find that) surely your Lord is ample in forgiveness.} (An-Najm 53:32)

Steps to Avoid Sins

 

First, we need to have a sincere desire to desert sins altogether and to start leading a life of virtue.

Second, we should realize our own weaknesses, particularly in the matter of avoiding the pitfalls of life, and so we should earnestly seek the help and blessing of Almighty Allah in our efforts.

Third, we should, as far as possible, keep away from all the circumstances that can tempt us toward sinful actions.

Fourth, we should strive to concentrate on virtuous thoughts and actions and to turn our minds away from the temptations that pull us toward sin.

Fifth, we should seek the company of Allah-fearing people and regularly attend sessions and lectures that instill taqwa (Arabic for: piety and fear of Allah) into our hearts.

Such efforts on our part will, hopefully, help us leave off the lapses in our life and attain a level of virtue that pleases Almighty Allah, insha Allah.