For Every Effect there is a Cause

This post highlights the physical nature of the effects of disobeying Islamic laws. There is a misguided yet prevalent notion that there is a disconnection between the physical and the spiritual worlds. This misguided notion that has its roots in Manichaeism (Paganism) has dire consequences on one’s thoughts and behaviour. Such dualism may easily mislead religious individuals to monasticism or extreme asceticism, neither of which has any place in Islam. From another perspective, it may lead people to negligence and carelessnesss, since people may falsely see the so-called spiritual world in a distant and only care about the immediate physical world that they experience daily. Such perception, gradually, takes individuals away from religious orders and duties, since it removes the significance of following religious orders and laws.

The following authentic tradition, vividly connects the effects of sins to our worldly and physical lives and conditions. This post highlights the physical cause-and-effect aspect of Islamic laws and orders.

Following this tradition, I will make a few more points. 

Arabic Text: 

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ وَ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ جَمِيعاً عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ مَالِكِ بْنِ عَطِيَّةَ عَنْ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع قَالَ:

وَجَدْنَا فِي كِتَابِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص إِذَا ظَهَرَ الزِّنَا مِنْ بَعْدِي كَثُرَ مَوْتُ الْفَجْأَةِ وَ إِذَا طُفِّفَ الْمِكْيَالُ وَ الْمِيزَانُ أَخَذَهُمُ اللَّهُ بِالسِّنِينَ وَ النَّقْصِ وَ إِذَا مَنَعُوا الزَّكَاةَ مَنَعَتِ الْأَرْضُ بَرَكَتَهَا مِنَ الزَّرْعِ وَ الثِّمَارِ وَ الْمَعَادِنِ كُلَّهَا وَ إِذَا جَارُوا فِي الْأَحْكَامِ تَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الظُّلْمِ وَ الْعُدْوَانِ وَ إِذَا نَقَضُوا الْعَهْدَ سَلَّطَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ عَدُوَّهُمْ وَ إِذَا قَطَّعُوا الْأَرْحَامَ جُعِلَتِ الْأَمْوَالُ فِي أَيْدِي الْأَشْرَارِ وَ إِذَا لَمْ يَأْمُرُوا بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَ لَمْ يَنْهَوْا عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَ لَمْ يَتَّبِعُوا الْأَخْيَارَ مِنْ أَهْلِ بَيْتِي سَلَّطَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ شِرَارَهُمْ فَيَدْعُوا خِيَارُهُمْ فَلَا يُسْتَجَابُ لَهُمْ.

Farsi Translation:

حضرت باقر عليه السلام فرمود:

كه در كتاب رسول خدا يافتيم (نوشته بود): هر گاه پس از من زنا پديدار شود مرگ ناگهانى فراوان گردد، و هر گاه از پيمانه و ترازو كم شود، خداوند آنان را بقحطى و كمى (خوار و بار و ساير وسائل زندگى) مأخوذ دارد، و هر گاه از دادن زكات دريغ كنند، زمين بركات خود را از زراعت و ميوه‏ها و معادن همه آنها (از آنان) دريغ كند، و هر گاه در احكام بناحق حكم كنند همكارى در ستم و عدوان كنند (و بستم همديگر دچار شوند) و چون پيمان‏شكنى كنند خداوند دشمنشان را بر آنان مسلط كند، و چون قطع رحم كنند خداوند اموال (و ثروتها) را در دست اشرار قرار دهد، و چون امر بمعروف و نهى از منكر نكنند و پيروى از نيكان اهل بيت من ننمايند خداوند اشرار آنان را بر ايشان مسلط گرداند، پس نيكان آنها دعا كنند و مستجاب نشود 

English Translation:

Narrated by Ali Ibn Ibrahim from his father and a number of our companions from Ahmed Ibn Mohamed and all of them from Ibn Mahboub from Malek Ibn Attiya from Abu Hamza from Abu Ja’far (peace be upon him) who said:

We found in the book of the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him):

“Should forbidden sexual intercouse [Zina] emerge after I am gone, sudden death will increase, and should cheating in measurements by weighing down the balance [unfairly] occur, Allah takes from them via famine and defections, and should alms-giving be refrained from, the Earth will withhold its blessings of every crop, fruit, and metal and minerals, and should they judge unjustly amongst people and help one another in iniquity and aggression or should they break pledges, Allah will set their enemies dominant upon them. Should they sever the ties of kinship, wealth will fall in the hands of the evil. Should they not enjoin to good nor forbid from what is prohibited, and not follow the righteous from amongst the people of my house, Allah will set upon them the evil ones from amongst them. Consequently, the righteous amongst them shall supplicate but their [supplications] shall not be answered.”

Source :

Al-Kafi, Volume 2, Page 374, Tradition #2

Here are a few points that I noticed in this tradition:

• Forbidden sexual intercourse [or zina] is a physically unhealthy behaviour with dire physical consequences. It is one of the contributing factors to sudden death.

19 Million New Cases Of Sexually Transmitted Disease Annually In The USA

Cheating men more likely to have heart attacks

Researcher Dr Alessandra Fisher found: “Several interpersonal, sexual, and biological factors are associated with having extramarital affairs.

“Unfaithfulness in men seems to be associated with a higher risk of major cardiovascular events.”

She told the Daily Mail: “Extra-martial sex may be hazardous and stressful because the lover is often younger than the primary partner and probably sex occurs more often following excessive drinking and/or eating.

“It is possible that a secret sexual encounter in an unfamiliar setting may significantly increase blood pressure and heart rate, leading to increased oxygen demand.”

Here’s the complete study:

Sexual and Cardiovascular Correlates of Male Unfaithfulness

This study was first published on April 2012.  It is the first of its kind. Hopefully, more related research will be done to examine this topic further and in detail.

• An implicit, yet quite interesting, point in this tradition is the link between the action of alms-giving and the Earth. In this tradition, it is said that it is the Earth that withholds its blessings. It is implied that the Earth has been created and designed in such a way to detect the deed of alms-giving. How does this occur? I do not know. However, this fact links our actions and deeds to our Earth and environment. In other words, our Earth responds to our actions. If we follow what God has commanded, our Earth will open its blessings to us. On the other hand, if we disobey God’s commands, our Earth keeps its blessings away from us. Our action is the cause, the Earth’s response is the effect.

• A significant fact that is brought to our attention in this tradition is that our deeds or negligence has an effect, not only on our own prayers and supplications, but also on supplications of the righteous amongst us. If via our actions we create a negative atmosphere, the supplications of the righteous amongst us will not be answered. This may be the answer to a common question, “why, amidst our regular supplications, do our societies continue to become more immoral? Why isn’t oppression and difficulties taken away from our societies even though we supplicate regularly?” Moreover, this point highlights the importance of supplicating in the right environment. It brings our attention to the status of our environment. If we want supplications to be answered, then we must enjoin to good and forbid from evil, in order to create a positive and receptive environment.

So, why are our societies in such a downward spiral? Because many people amongst us, many people in our societies, disbelieve in or do not follow the teachings of ahlul bayt (as). The teachings of ahlul bayt (as) help us to create a positive atmosphere, an atmosphere that is responsive to our supplications. If and when we do not follow their guidelines, we allow a negative atmosphere to surround us, an environment that blocks our prayers and supplications from being answered.

In conclusion, we need to realize that our deeds, our bodies and our environments are linked and interconnected.  Our obedience or disobedience of God’s commands are linked to our physical, worldly environment and our physical bodies. It is a mistake to connect religion, sins or obligations, to only the hereafter. The sooner we realize the immediacy of the effects of our actions, the sooner we begin to care about our daily deeds and intentions, and the sooner we begin to prepare a healthy environment, where the supplications are answered. 

Let us not forget that,

... And Allah is Swift at reckoning. (2:202)

... Allah is Swift at reckoning. (3:19)

... and He is Swift at reckoning. (13:41)

... Truly, Allah is Swift at reckoning. (14:51)

... and Allah is swift at reckoning. (24:39)

... Truly, Allah is Swift at reckoning. (40:17)

Do Not Pass Religious Rulings Without Knowledge

I have come to notice that many people, who consider themselves to be religious, are quite quick and comfortable to inform others about various religious rulings. This is fine as long as they are asked for them and are certain about what comes out of their mouths. However, at times, after questioning their statements a little further, I have come to realize that some of them, who initially seemed quite sure, were not as certain regarding the origin and the validity of the rulings that they were spreading. This action, to pass religious rulings without certainty has dire consequences. In this post, via posting a concise authentic tradition, I would like to highlight this point.  From the following tradition we can conclude that we must not pass religious rulings, without being certain of their validity. 

Arabic Text: 

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ رِئَابٍ عَنْ أَبِي عُبَيْدَةَ الْحَذَّاءِ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع قَالَ:

مَنْ أَفْتَى النَّاسَ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ وَ لَا هُدًى لَعَنَتْهُ مَلَائِكَةُ الرَّحْمَةِ وَ مَلَائِكَةُ الْعَذَابِ وَ لَحِقَهُ وِزْرُ مَنْ عَمِلَ بِفُتْيَاهُ.

Farsi Translation:

امام باقر عليه السلام فرمود:

هر كه ندانسته و رهبرى نشده بمردم فتوى دهد فرشتگان رحمت و فرشتگان عذاب او را لعنت كنند و گناه آنكه بفتوايش عمل كند دامنگيرش شود.

English Translation:

Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmed ibn Muhammad ibn Eissa from Al-Hasan ibn Mahbob from Ali ibn Re'ab fromAbu Obayda Al-Hatha'a from Abu Ja'far (peace be upon him) who has said:

"The one who issues a fatwa [a religious ruling] without knowledge and without guidance will be cursed by angles of mercy and angles of punishment and the sin of whoever follows his fatwa will be added to him."

It is tremendously important to be careful about what leaves our mouths. It is tremendously important to watch over our tongues. 

For a few a more related traditions, you could check the following posts: 

·         Being Silent

·         Four Habits that Lead Us to Paradise

·         Watch Over Your Tongue and Be Healthy

Source:

Al-kafi, Volume 1, Page 42, Tradition #3

His Book Will Surprise You

The other day, I was speaking with a friend about the Holy Quran. My friend said, “whenever I read the Quran, I feel it keeps repeating itself.” Then he asked, “what is the point of reading it every day?”   

In this post, I would like to post a short good (like authentic) tradition, regarding the Quran and its magnificence and hope that my friend and who ever that may think like him would re-examine their views.

Following this tradition, I will make a few points.

Arabic Text:

عَلِيٌّ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الْمُغِيرَةِ عَنْ سَمَاعَةَ بْنِ مِهْرَانَ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع

إِنَّ الْعَزِيزَ الْجَبَّارَ أَنْزَلَ عَلَيْكُمْ كِتَابَهُ وَ هُوَ الصَّادِقُ الْبَارُّ فِيهِ خَبَرُكُمْ وَ خَبَرُ مَنْ قَبْلَكُمْ وَ خَبَرُ مَنْ بَعْدَكُمْ وَ خَبَرُ السَّمَاءِ وَ الْأَرْضِ وَ لَوْ أَتَاكُمْ مَنْ يُخْبِرُكُمْ عَنْ ذَلِكَ لَتَعَجَّبْتُمْ.

Farsi Translation:

امام صادق (ع) فرمود:

راستى كه عزيز جبّار كتاب خود را بر شماها فرو فرستاده و او است كه راست گو و نيك خواه است، در كتاب او است گزارش شما و گزارش هر كه پيش از شما و گزارش هر كه پس از شما است و گزارش آسمان و زمين و اگر بيايد نزد شما كسى كه شما را از آن گزارش دهد، هر آينه به شگفت آئيد.

English Translation:

Ali has narrated from his father from Abdillah ibn Al Mogheira from Sama'ah ibn Mehran who has said, Abu Abdillah (peace be upon him) said:

Allah the Majestic, the Compeller descended His book upon you, and He is the Truthful, the Most Righteous. It includes and encloses information about you, information about those previous to you and information about those coming after you. And it includes information about the sky and the earth and if someone came and told you about all of these you would be surprised."

First and foremost, our imam (peace be upon him) begins by clarifying that His book is sent from Him and He is the Truthful. This opening section removes any doubt that His book may contain void information. He is, also, the Most Righteous. What ever that is revealed from Him stems from His righteousness and will be good for His sincere followers and servants.

It is followed that His book, encloses information about past, present and future. This is quite important. Many individuals when they read His book, attempt to understand it through past events. For example, they try to know when and where a verse was revealed and who and what it was addressing when it was revealed. Subsequently, they assume that if there are verses that they can link and connect to specific events in the past, then it must not be applicable to the present or to the future. Via this method, they limit the influence and application of His book in their contemporary lives and decision-making.

Furthermore, in this tradition we read in His book we find information about the sky and the earth.

The final part of this tradition is the part that ties all of this together and highlights the magnificence of His book. Without specifying any time or place, which leaves it open to all times and all places, we are told that His book has the capacity to surprise us. It is implied that regardless of how much we already know or how advanced we have already become, within this book there is information that would continue to surprise us. It contains in it confounding information about the future and about our natural world.  There is no wonder that we constantly hear from those who regularly read His book that they are amazed at how often they encounter something new that they had not encountered in the previous readings.

Now, it is important to keep in mind and remember that this tradition must be placed within a proper context. It must be understood alongside other traditions that speak about His book and about knowledge in general.  Based on other traditions, we are strongly recommended to read fifty verses of His book daily, and we are strongly recommended to do so contemplatively. In addition, it is well-known that our faith strongly encourages us to seek knowledge and study the creations of Allah, in order to obtain hints about the magnificence of Allah.  If we put this tradition, within the context of these other religious recommendations, we may conclude that to see more within His book, we must gain auxiliary information by gaining knowledge from outside of His book, and to incorporate such knowledge into our thoughts and reflections as we read fifty verses of His book contemplatively on a daily basis. Through this method, we gain the opportunity to be astonished regularly by God’s book.

Lastly, it should be noticed that this tradition does not specify any specific sort of individual that has the ability to inform us about the astonishing facts within God’s book. Thus, we do not have any reason to assume that ordinary individuals are incapable of discovering the implicit information within His book. If the right conditions are followed properly, then the doors of this treasure may be opened to any one.

Source:

Al-Kafi, Volume 2, Page 599, Tradition #3