❀ Sins and the Loss of Blessings – An Islamic Perspective ❀
This fatwa is derived from the book “500 Questions and Answers for Women,” based on the verdicts of the Scholars of the Ḥaramayn, translated by Ḥāfiẓ ʿAbdullāh Salīm.
I have read that the consequences of sins appear in the form of divine punishment and the removal of blessings. This thought brings me to tears out of fear. Please guide me. Jazākum Allāhu Khayran.
Every believing man and woman is obliged to:
✔ Abstain from sins,
✔ Repent from past transgressions, and
✔ Maintain good expectations from Allah ﷻ, while also fearing His punishment and displeasure.
Allah ﷻ praised His righteous servants in the Qur’an:
«إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا يُسَارِعُونَ فِي الْخَيْرَاتِ وَيَدْعُونَنَا رَغَبًا وَرَهَبًا وَكَانُوا لَنَا خَاشِعِينَ»
“Indeed, they used to hasten to do good deeds and supplicate Us in hope and fear, and they were humbly submissive to Us.”
[Al-Anbiyāʾ: 90]
And He ﷻ also said:
«أُولَـئِكَ الَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ يَبْتَغُونَ إِلَى رَبِّهِمُ الْوَسِيلَةَ أَيُّهُمْ أَقْرَبُ وَيَرْجُونَ رَحْمَتَهُ وَيَخَافُونَ عَذَابَهُ إِنَّ عَذَابَ رَبِّكَ كَانَ مَحْذُورًا»
“Those whom they call upon seek means of access to their Lord, [striving as to] which of them is nearest, and they hope for His mercy and fear His punishment. Indeed, the punishment of your Lord is ever feared.”
[Al-Isrāʾ: 57]
And He ﷻ states:
«وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتُ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءُ بَعْضٍ... أُوْلَـئِكَ سَيَرْحَمُهُمُ اللَّهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ»
“The believing men and believing women are allies of one another... It is they whom Allah will have mercy upon. Indeed, Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise.”
[Al-Tawbah: 71]
A believer must also take permissible and practical steps to avoid harm and pursue good, while placing trust in Allah ﷻ. He is Generous and Merciful, and has promised:
«وَمَنْ يَتَّقِ اللَّهَ يَجْعَلْ لَهُ مَخْرَجًا، وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَحْتَسِبُ، وَمَنْ يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُ»
“And whoever fears Allah – He will make for him a way out, and provide for him from where he does not expect. And whoever relies upon Allah – then He is sufficient for him.”
[Al-Ṭalāq: 2–3]
Also:
«وَمَنْ يَتَّقِ اللَّهَ يَجْعَلْ لَهُ مِنْ أَمْرِهِ يُسْرًا»
“And whoever fears Allah – He will make his matters easy for him.”
[Al-Ṭalāq: 4]
And:
«وَتُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا أَيُّهَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ»
“And repent to Allah altogether, O believers, so that you may succeed.”
[Al-Nūr: 31]
🕊 Dear Sister in Islam,
You are obligated to:
① Sincerely repent from past sins,
② Be steadfast in Allah’s obedience,
③ Maintain hope in His mercy, and
④ Avoid actions that incur His anger.
You have every reason to remain hopeful and optimistic. May Allah grant you immense good in this world and the next, and end your journey with a blessed conclusion.
(Fatwa by: Shaykh Ibn Bāz رحمه الله)
This fatwa is derived from the book “500 Questions and Answers for Women,” based on the verdicts of the Scholars of the Ḥaramayn, translated by Ḥāfiẓ ʿAbdullāh Salīm.
❖ Question:
I have read that the consequences of sins appear in the form of divine punishment and the removal of blessings. This thought brings me to tears out of fear. Please guide me. Jazākum Allāhu Khayran.
❖ Answer:
Every believing man and woman is obliged to:
✔ Abstain from sins,
✔ Repent from past transgressions, and
✔ Maintain good expectations from Allah ﷻ, while also fearing His punishment and displeasure.
Allah ﷻ praised His righteous servants in the Qur’an:
«إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا يُسَارِعُونَ فِي الْخَيْرَاتِ وَيَدْعُونَنَا رَغَبًا وَرَهَبًا وَكَانُوا لَنَا خَاشِعِينَ»
“Indeed, they used to hasten to do good deeds and supplicate Us in hope and fear, and they were humbly submissive to Us.”
[Al-Anbiyāʾ: 90]
And He ﷻ also said:
«أُولَـئِكَ الَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ يَبْتَغُونَ إِلَى رَبِّهِمُ الْوَسِيلَةَ أَيُّهُمْ أَقْرَبُ وَيَرْجُونَ رَحْمَتَهُ وَيَخَافُونَ عَذَابَهُ إِنَّ عَذَابَ رَبِّكَ كَانَ مَحْذُورًا»
“Those whom they call upon seek means of access to their Lord, [striving as to] which of them is nearest, and they hope for His mercy and fear His punishment. Indeed, the punishment of your Lord is ever feared.”
[Al-Isrāʾ: 57]
And He ﷻ states:
«وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتُ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءُ بَعْضٍ... أُوْلَـئِكَ سَيَرْحَمُهُمُ اللَّهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ»
“The believing men and believing women are allies of one another... It is they whom Allah will have mercy upon. Indeed, Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise.”
[Al-Tawbah: 71]
A believer must also take permissible and practical steps to avoid harm and pursue good, while placing trust in Allah ﷻ. He is Generous and Merciful, and has promised:
«وَمَنْ يَتَّقِ اللَّهَ يَجْعَلْ لَهُ مَخْرَجًا، وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَحْتَسِبُ، وَمَنْ يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُ»
“And whoever fears Allah – He will make for him a way out, and provide for him from where he does not expect. And whoever relies upon Allah – then He is sufficient for him.”
[Al-Ṭalāq: 2–3]
Also:
«وَمَنْ يَتَّقِ اللَّهَ يَجْعَلْ لَهُ مِنْ أَمْرِهِ يُسْرًا»
“And whoever fears Allah – He will make his matters easy for him.”
[Al-Ṭalāq: 4]
And:
«وَتُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا أَيُّهَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ»
“And repent to Allah altogether, O believers, so that you may succeed.”
[Al-Nūr: 31]
❖ Conclusion & Advice:
🕊 Dear Sister in Islam,
You are obligated to:
① Sincerely repent from past sins,
② Be steadfast in Allah’s obedience,
③ Maintain hope in His mercy, and
④ Avoid actions that incur His anger.
You have every reason to remain hopeful and optimistic. May Allah grant you immense good in this world and the next, and end your journey with a blessed conclusion.
(Fatwa by: Shaykh Ibn Bāz رحمه الله)
