Second: Patience on avoiding disobedience:

Sins and acts of disobedience are very harmful. Undoubtedly, their damaging effect on one's heart is like the effect of poison on the body and this has different degrees. Any evil or ailment afflicting a person in both the two worlds is due to sins and acts of disobedience.

What was the reason behind the banishment of our first parents from Paradise, the abode of pleasure, bliss and happiness, to the abode of pain, sadness and disasters? What was the reason behind taking Satan away from the kingdom of heaven, expelling him from the mercy of Allah The Almighty, cursing him and deforming him both outwardly and inwardly? What was the reason behind drowning all the inhabitants of earth until the water reached the mountain tops? What was the reason behind sending the barren wind to the people of ‘Aad, which turned them into lifeless corpses, as if they were hollow trunks of palm trees? That wind also destroyed everything it passed by, including homes, farms, plants and animals. It made them an example for all nations until the Day of Judgment.

What was the reason behind sending the Shriek against the people of Thamood until their hearts were cut within their chests and they all died? What was the reason behind lifting the villages of the people of Loote, may Allah exalt his mention, up to the heavens until the angels heard the barking of their dogs and then it was turned upside down and all the people died? Then they were rained upon with stones of hard clay. They were punished in ways different from all other nations and those who follow their example will have the same punishment, which is not very far from the wrongdoers. [Al-Jawaab Al-Kaafi by Ibn Al-Qayyim]

Was not disobedience the reason behind all this? Man should realize the loss he incurs and the wrong he does when he disobeys Allah The Almighty. The fact is that we are in dire need for patience, both with acts of disobedience and sins.



islamweb.net