Unwilled Offences

In this post I will present a very short yet insightful tradition.  This tradition is about a specific phrase inside a Quranic verse, “إِلَّا اللَّمَمَ.” 

           

            Just like other traditions, multiple lessons can be extracted from this tradition as well.   However, what caught my eyes, as an individual who is interested in cognitive sciences, was how our Imam, peace be upon him, concisely clarified that quitting habits cannot occur suddenly and overnight.  The frequency of committing the habit may decrease more and more over time, if the individual has decided to quit that habit, but it is almost impossible, if possible at all, to quit  a well-established habit overnight. 

           

            For those who are interested about the scientific reason behind such behaviour, “unwilled offences”, I recommend you study the phenomenon of Neuroplasticity, which investigates the formation and plasticity of connections amongst neurons in our brains.

            Very briefly speaking, every action we commit is directly related to specific neurons in our brains.  Our experiences and our actions form and change the neuron network in our brains.  If we commit an action frequently, that network, which is formed by that action, gains strength and stability, and hence a habit will be formed. Since our brain likes stability and homeostasis, once a network is strengthened and firm in our brains, disconnecting it and dismantling it would not be easy, and requires persistence and a strong will power. This is why quitting habits is not easy and takes time.

            This is of course an extremely brief overview of the neuroscience behind the formation of habits.  I like to emphasize the fact that this was an extremely brief overview, and if you are interested in the neuroscience behind habits, I suggest you examine the phenomenon of Neuroplasticity.

            Here’s an excellent book, which I strongly recommend on this topic.  Read and learn how you can use brain science to help yourself quit your negative habits.

The Brain That Changes Itself:

Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science

 

            Initially, if this is the first time you hear about the neuroscience behind habits, you may not see the significance behind this tradition.  However, the more you study cognitive sciences, and the significance of our subconscious mind, you may appreciate this tradition more and more.

            Lastly, when you read this tradition, if you could think of any other lessons that could be extracted from it, please do share them by writing a comment and letting all the readers know about other possible lessons from this tradition.  

Without any further ado here’s the tradition. This tradition is graded as Good.

5)

Arabic Text:

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ حَرِيزٍ عَنْ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ مَا مِنْ ذَنْبٍ إِلَّا وَ قَدْ طُبِعَ عَلَيْهِ عَبْدٌ مُؤْمِنٌ يَهْجُرُهُ الزَّمَانَ ثُمَّ يُلِمُّ بِهِ وَ هُوَ قَوْلُ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ الَّذِينَ يَجْتَنِبُونَ كَبائِرَ الْإِثْمِ وَ الْفَواحِشَ إِلَّا اللَّمَمَ (53:32)  قَالَ اللَّمَّامُ الْعَبْدُ الَّذِي يُلِمُّ الذَّنْبَ بَعْدَ الذَّنْبِ لَيْسَ مِنْ سَلِيقَتِهِ أَيْ مِنْ

طَبِيعَتِهِ

Farsi Translation:

حضرت صادق عليه السّلام فرمود: هيچ گناهى نيست جز آنكه بنده مؤمنى بدان خو گرفته، مدتى آن را واگذارد سپس (دوباره) بآن دست زند، و آن است گفتار خداى عز و جل: «آنان كه دورى گزينند از گناهان بزرگ و ناشايسته‏ ها جز لمم» (53:32)  فرمود: امام: آن بنده‏ ايست كه بگناهى پس از گناهى دست زند كه موافق سليقه او يعنى از طبيعت او نيست

English Translation:

Narrated by Ali Ibn Ibrahim from his father from Hammad Ibn Eissa from Huraiz from Ishaaq Ibn Ammar from Abu Abdullah (peace be upon him) who said:

Every sin that becomes a habit and then is abandoned by a believing servant for a period of time, he repeats unwillingly. This is in the words of Allah the Most Exalted: “Those who avoid enormities of sin and abominations save the unwilled offences.” (53:32) The minor offender is a servant who commits sin after sin, which are not in line with his disposition, meaning his nature.

Source:

Al-Kafi, Volume 2, Page 442, Tradition #5