...Of Mortal and Venial Sins: A Reminder.

[Abu Habiba]

 As-Salaam alaikum,

  Our Sheikh, al-Harith ibn Asad al-Musasibi, may Allah be pleased with him, in his book titled 'Kitab al-Mustarshid (Book of the Traveller on the Right Road)' wrote that: --

        ''Know, O my brother, that sins produce heedlessness (ghafla)-- that is, the sinner is forgetful of God

          and His Law- and the heedlessness produces hardness of heart, and hardness of heart leads to alienation

        from God, and alienation from God leads to Hell.''

 

Whether a sin committed is small (saghira) or big/great (kabira), both types are to be avoided. Sheikh al-Muhasibi teaches that one cannot attain to the conquest of sin except by a sound purpose and a firm intention to combat desire; and by controlling one's inward self, for if the servant controls his/her self, he dominates his organs and he has knowledge of his own heart, and self-examination in what it desires becomes easy for him, by the leave of Allah Most High; but if you lose control of your inward self, God's command will seem hard to you, and your organs will go astray and your heart will be lost.... you will find yourself unfit for self-examination. Therefore keep to what is lawful, control your tongue except in what will aid you in approaching God Most High.

Many Regards.