Why Would Others Be Punished For My Sins?

A good friend asked a question regarding my last post of boycotting sins: “Why would others be punished for my sins?”

Answer

I would say that first of all, I don’t deny the effects of boycotting goods. It does affect the perpetrators. However, I was merely trying to direct our attention towards something which is needed much more.

I can explain the matter of sins and their effects with an example:

Some times we have heat-waves. The weatherman says this is due to the intensity of the heat in the Sahara deserts. Or we have freezing weather and they say it’s coming from Siberia.

The people in those lands don’t feel it as much as we do. Either because they are accustomed to that type of weather or because they have proper arrangements for such situations, or some protective equipments.

Similar is the case with vices. Sometimes sins are committed in one place, and the effects reach other places. The sinners are also affected but they don’t realise it, maybe because they are accustomed to things happening in their area.

Sometimes they have personal calamities or collective problems, but they don’t realise or just keep going on like robots.

Furthermore, spiritual suffering is much harmful than physical suffering. In physical suffering, the most that can happen is death of the body. Whereas in spiritual sufferings, the soul dies and the Azab of Aakhirah is incurred. And we know that the death of the soul is total destruction.

Sometimes, the evil effects are avoided because of some other good deeds which form a protection, eg being charitable, free health care, social services, helping the elderly, having good manners etc.

Secondly, we were going through the month of Ramadhan, which is a month of repentance. We needed to encourage people to repent, turn to Allah and ask for forgiveness. It is disrespectful to say to someone already suffering injustice “This is because of your sins, so repent!!”

Therefore, we have to encourage the community as a whole to repent from all vices. Sins invite the wrath of Allah, and the anger of Allah can only be cooled down by repenting, relenting, crying, and by begging for forgiveness.

Thirdly, some sins are committed in secrecy, while others in public. Individual repentance is enough for private sins whereas collective repentance is needed for openly committed sins. Eg vices in weddings, where everybody sins and takes them lightly, usury, which is so widespread that people don’t think it’s a sin anymore. Shaving beards, people give nicknames of beardo etc to someone who keeps a shar’ee beard. Many girls don’t want to marry a beardo. Etc

Have a look at many Muslim countries where there is open prostitution, alcohol, RIBA, drugs, murders, gay porn, semi naked Bollywood stars being entertained and given stage receptions and expensive gifts.

Ramadhan has yet to finish and people on social websites are talking about which movies to watch at the cinema on Eid day. Many are practicing the dance and the song to use at the Eid party.

The condition has deteriorated so much that we don’t know where it’s going to end.

This is why we need to encourage all Muslims to look at their own life and repent from all vices.

Fourthly, sufferings are not only the results of sins. Sometimes they are tests from Allah. Allah is our Creator. He can test us the way He wants. Then He will reward those who persevere, with immense reward.
This is the reason why prophets (who were sinless) had to go through huge sufferings. Allah wanted to reward them with the highest ranks in the hereafter.

Look at the patience of Nooh alayhissalam in the face of the rebellious, abusive, oppressive community. He persevered with them for over 950 years.

Allah gave the title of Sabireen to Ismail, Al-yasa’ and Dhul Kifl. He said ‘We found Ayyub to be saabir, he was an excellent servant, he was oft-turning”

Our Rasul sallallahu alayhi wasallam went through great hardships. He lost all his 7 children during his lifetime. Only Fatima radiallahu anha survived him. After receiving prophethood, His life was always at risk during the 13 years of his stay in Makkah mukarramah. He was strangled, trampled, beaten up, and on many occasions, covered in blood.

During his stay in Madina Munawwarah, he was poisoned, enemies did black magic on him. Many came to kill him and kill his few followers in battlefields. They injured him in Uhud, tore his cheeks and broke his tooth.

All this was not the result of any sin. It was simply to raise the ranks in Allah’s eyes. They all understood this and they took everything on the chin. There was no question of any complain.

This is why one Hadith says: “When Allah loves a people, He tests them. Then whoever is happy, will have Allah’s pleasure and whoever is angry, will have Allah’s anger”

It seems Allah is happy with the people of Gaza. That is why we hear stories of young men ready for shahadah. Leaving notes of debt in their pockets, writing on twitter a day before their shahadah “When will your rocket come and bless me with this rank of shahadah?”

We are very coward people. I feel ashamed at our cowardice. We can’t understand these spiritual feelings.
We can’t understand how fragrance of musk can emanate from a shaheed’s body, many years after his shahadah.

The Gaza people have sacrificed and their sacrifices will bear fruits inshallah.

Our duas are always with them, and will remain with them.

I seek Allah’s forgiveness for my sins and I repent to Him wholeheartedly. I make an intention that I will never sin inshallah, and if some mistake does happen, I will repent immediately.

O Allah! I beg you to have mercy upon the whole ummah. Please guide the whole humanity towards Haq and please do not let my sins affect any Muslim anywhere in the world.

Ameen ya Rabbal Alameen bi hurmati Sayyidul Mursaleen salawaatullahi wa salaamuhu alayhi wa Alaa aalihi wa as’haabihi ajmaeen, ila yawmiddeen.