Hawzah News Agency | In the eighth supplication of Sahīfa Sajjadiyyah, Imam Sajjad, peace be upon him, addresses Almighty God in these words:
«اَللَّهُمَّ إِنیِّ أَعُوذُ بِکَ مِنْ اسْتِصْغَارِ الْمَعْصِیَةِ.»
“O God, I seek refuge in You from taking sin lightly.”
Explanation:
One of the reasons that may cause a person to show audacity before Almighty God and commit sin or to fail to give repentance is taking sin lightly. As Imam Sajjad peace be upon him teaches, a believer should seek refuge in God from the danger of viewing sin as something trivial.
What makes the issue of belittling sin even more sensitive is that it is among the criteria distinguishing a believer from a disbeliever. The Messenger of God, peace and blessings of God be upon him and his family, said in his counsel to Abu Dharr (One of the special companions of the Prophet):
«إِنَّ اَلْمُؤْمِنَ لَیَرَی ذَنْبَهُ کَأَنَّهُ صَخْرَةٌ یَخَافُ أَنْ تَقَعَ عَلَیْهِ وَ إِنَّ اَلْکَافِرَ یَرَی ذَنْبَهُ کَأَنَّهُ ذُبَابٌ مَرَّ عَلَی أَنْفِهِ.»
“The believer perceives his sin as a great rock hanging over him, fearing that it might fall upon him; while the disbeliever regards his sin as a mere fly passing before his nose.” (Makarim al-Akhlaq, v. 1, p. 458)
How Can We Be Freed from This kind of Sin?
What can deliver a person from the sin of "taking sin lightly" is a change in perspective. The Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of God be upon him and his family, says:
«لاَ تَنْظُرُوا إِلَی صِغَرِ اَلذَّنْبِ وَ لَکِن اُنْظُرُوا إِلَی مَنِ اِجْتَرَأْتُمْ.»
“Do not look at the smallness of the sin; rather, look at Him against Whom you have dared to commit it.” (Bihar al-Anwar, v. 74, p. 168)
Indeed, when one reflects on Whom he has disobeyed, he perceives even a seemingly small act of disobedience as a massive boulder weighing upon his head. This awareness arises from a sense of shame and modesty, because the Greatness and Majesty of the Creator whom one has defied makes the sin appear immense in his eyes.
Truly, such is the mindset of a believer.
A Warning
Neglecting to avoid taking sin lightly is precisely what Imam Kādhim, peace be upon him, warns us against. He says:
«لاَ تَسْتَقِلُّوا قَلِیلَ اَلذُّنُوبِ فَإِنَّ قَلِیلَ اَلذُّنُوبِ یَجْتَمِعُ حَتَّی یَکُونَ کَثِیراً.»
“Do not count the small sins as little, for small sins accumulate until they become many.” (Al- Kafi, v. 2, p. 287)
For this reason—as declared by the Prophet Muhammad peace and blessings of God be upon him and his family —such negligence brings comfort to Satan:
«إِنَّ إِبْلِیسَ رَضِیَ مِنْکُمْ بِالْمُحَقَّرَاتِ.»
“Indeed, Satan is pleased with your trivialized sins.” (Bihar al-Anwar, v. 70, p. 363)
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