Author: Abdul Hai Lay'yan
The Divine Education Model in the Family of the Prophets (Part 18)
Seventh Teaching: The Consequence of Sin is Loss and Prolonged Regret
Qabil committed the crime of murdering his brother Habil, and from this heinous act he gained nothing but utter loss. He destroyed himself and cast himself into ruin; he lost his happiness and peace; his life, which could have been fruitful and constructive, was transformed into one filled with wickedness, oppression, and transgression. His worldly life was ruined, and living became bitter for him; and he lost his Hereafter as well. Moreover, he carried the burden of both sins—the sin of the killer, for committing the crime of murder, and the sin of the victim, because the victim (Habil) never thought of killing his oppressive brother, thereby removing the possibility of himself being the killer. As Allah says: “لَئِن بَسَطتَ إِلَيَّ يَدَكَ لِتَقْتُلَنِي مَا أَنَا بِبَاسِطٍ يَدِيَ إِلَيْكَ لِأَقْتُلَكَ” [1]” Translation: “If you stretch your hand toward me to kill me, I will not stretch my hand toward you to kill you.”
Thus, the possibility was transferred to the killer, who bore both consequences, carrying both sins upon himself. He also lost his historical legacy, which became a record of rebellion, oppression, and transgression.
Moreover, he carries a share of the burden for every unjust killing committed from the time of his crime until the Day of Judgment, for he was the first to establish the crime of murder. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “No soul is killed unjustly but the first son of Adam (Qabil) will have a share of its blood, for he was the first to establish the practice of murder.” [2]
He also lost his brother, his supporter and companion. He lost the very meaning of brotherhood that linked him to his sibling, and he lost all noble meanings of humanity such as mercy, affection, and tolerance. [3] He lost his parents and family as well, for they became angry with him because of his crime. Indeed, even before all of this, he lost his relationship with his Lord, His mercy and His bounties. He was expelled from the mercy of Allah Almighty, deprived of His grace, and became deserving of Hellfire and eternal punishment therein, as Allah Almighty says: “وَمَن يَقْتُلْ مُؤْمِناً مُّتَعَمِّداً فَجَزَآؤُهُ جَهَنَّمُ خَالِداً فِيهَا وَغَضِبَ اللّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَلَعَنَهُ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُ عَذَاباً عَظِيماً“ [4]” Translation: “And whoever kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell, wherein he will abide eternally. And Allah’s wrath will be upon him, and He will curse him and prepare for him a tremendous punishment.”
Loss Extending Through Time and Space and Its Application to the Ummah
Let us move beyond the loss of that envious and oppressive brother and look at a broader and more comprehensive implication of loss, one that transcends time and space and applies to every era and location. Whoever sheds the blood of his brother—whether by lineage, by faith in Islam, or by the bond of humanity—without just cause or legitimate reason, is a loser; it is as though he has killed all of mankind. As Allah the Exalted says: “مِنْ أَجْلِ ذَلِكَ كَتَبْنَا عَلَى بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ أَنَّهُ مَن قَتَلَ نَفْساً بِغَيْرِ نَفْسٍ أَوْ فَسَادٍ فِي الأَرْضِ فَكَأَنَّمَا قَتَلَ النَّاسَ جَمِيعاً وَمَنْ أَحْيَاهَا فَكَأَنَّمَا أَحْيَا النَّاسَ جَمِيعاً وَلَقَدْ جَاءتْهُمْ رُسُلُنَا بِالبَيِّنَاتِ ثُمَّ إِنَّ كَثِيراً مِّنْهُم بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ فِي الأَرْضِ لَمُسْرِفُونَ” [5]” Translation: “Because of that, We decreed upon the Children of Israel that whoever kills a soul—unless in retribution for murder or for spreading corruption on earth—it is as though he has killed all of mankind. And whoever saves one soul, it is as though he has saved all of mankind. And indeed, Our messengers came to them with clear proofs. Yet even after that, many of them continued to commit excesses throughout the earth.”
This loss encompasses not only individuals but the entire Ummah. Any Muslim who kills his brother without legitimate reason is a loser, as though he has killed all of humanity. And if the Muslim Ummah fights among themselves, replacing brotherhood, love, and tolerance with enmity and hatred in the hearts of their children, surely the loss will afflict them all.
However, if Muslims gather upon brotherhood, love, and cooperation; if affection reigns among them and they unite with one heart, then without doubt, success, prosperity, and victory will be their allies. History bears witness to this truth, and perhaps the clearest evidence of it is our contemporary reality. Muslims in this age are divided, enmity prevails among them, and discord persists among most Islamic countries. Matters have even escalated into conflict and disputes over material greed, and envy and malice have taken root in some hearts toward others. As a result, nations have attacked them just as hungry people rush upon a bowl of food. Though they are numerous, their numbers avail them nothing; they are like hunger that is not satisfied. A multitude that brings no benefit and yields no good. Thus, comprehensive loss has engulfed everything: their blood, children, morals, bonds, wealth, economy, existence, identity, dignity, and influence. The entire world pays no regard to them due to the humiliation and disgrace that afflict them. This situation continues despite the tireless efforts of sincere leaders, officials, scholars, and reformers who strive to rescue them from heedlessness and confusion and to erase the marks of humiliation and disgrace that have overtaken them.
To these sincere ones, we say: Continue your efforts and do not despair. For whenever Muslims have neglected their faith and its principles, someone has come to awaken them, and they have responded, rising from their slumber of heedlessness. They return to the Book of their Lord and the Sunnah of their Prophet, abandoning hatred, envy, and rancor. They overcome the enmity and hostility spread among them, support the religion of their Lord, defend their sacred values with all they have, and raise the banner of Islam high across the world—and they will continue to raise it.
Continues…
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References:
[1]. Al-Maedah/27.
[2]. Muhammad bin Ismail, Al-Bukhari, Sahih Al-Bukhari, hadith number 3335; Muslim bin Al-Hajjaj, Al-Nisaburi, Sahih Muslim, Hadith number 4355.
[3]. Salah, Al-Khalidi, with al-Qasas al-Aqeeeen fi al-Qur’an al-Karim, Studies in Faith and Da’wah and Jihad, vol. 3, p. 110.
[4]. Al-Nisa/93.
[5]. Al-Maida/32.
