The Hidden and Open Sin: Repent and Strive for the Hereafter

Allah ﷻ says in Surah An'am

وَذَرُوا۟ ظَٰهِرَ ٱلْإِثْمِ وَبَاطِنَهُۥٓ

Leave sin, open and secret

Qatadah  رحمه الله said: "encompasses sins committed in public and secret, whether few or many"

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَكْسِبُونَ ٱلْإِثْمَ سَيُجْزَوْنَ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَقْتَرِفُونَ

Indeed, those who commit sin will be punished for what they earn.

[6:120]

Whether the sins they committed were public or secret, Allah ﷻ will compensate them for these sins.

Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that An-Nawwas bin Sam`an said, "I asked Allah's Messenger about Al-Ithm. He said,

الْإِثمُ مَا حَاكَ فِي صَدْرِكَ وَكَرِهْتَ أَنْ يَطَّلِعَ النَّاسُ عَلَيْه

The sin is that which you find in your heart and you dislike that people become aware of it.

[Tafsir Ibn Kathir]

We must all recognise that we have sins and we are sinful!

But the greatest test and the one of the greatest things a Believer can do to become closer to Allah ﷻ is to remove himself, make Hijrah from the sins which cloud his heart!

As Prophet ﷺ said "There is no heart that does not have clouds like the clouds that cover the moon. When the cloud covers it, it is dark, and when the cloud moves away it shines.”

[Narrated by al-Tabaraani in al-Awsat, and classed as saheeh by al-Albaani]

Sufyan Ath Thawri رحمه الله said "Imaan is not wishes or pretence, rather it is what has settled in the heart and is proven by actions"

We must prove to ourselves and to Allah ﷻ that we love Him ﷻ more than ourselves,

This is by choosing His commands over our desires!

If I was to say "Raise your hand if you love Allah ﷻ and His Rasool ﷺ"

Every single one of you would!

But we must substantiate our claim with 'Amal!

With good actions!

And part of doing good is doing our best to stay away from the bad!

وَمَنْ أَرَادَ ٱلْءَاخِرَةَ

And whoever desires the Hereafter wanting the Hereafter and its blessings and delights,

وَسَعَىٰ لَهَا سَعْيَهَا

and strives for it, with the necessary effort due for it seeking it in the right way, which is following the Messenger.

وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌۭ

while he is a believer, means, his heart has faith, i.e., he believes in the reward and punishment,

فَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ كَانَ سَعْيُهُم مَّشْكُورًۭا

Then such are the ones whose striving shall be appreciated,

[17:19]

Means, rewarded by Allah ﷻ

Reflect on these verses

May Allah ﷻ forgive all our private sins as well as public sins and make us among the true believers.

 آمِيْن

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This text is one of the many fatwa (answers to questions based on authentic Islamic provisions) that are made available by a WhatsApp group, HIKIMOMIN MALAMAN SUNNAH (THE PHILOSOPHIES OF SUNNI SCHOLARS).