SINS AND THEIR PUNISHMENTS. (PART II)

All praise be to Allah, the lord of the Heaven and Earth.

In recent post we discussed about some sins and their punishments in this world and hereafter. In this post we will continue with this topic and try to cover some other sins and their punishments in light of Quran and Hadith, Insha Allah.

1. Rape and prostitution

No matter what society we live in, rape and prostitution, both are considered as shameful. While rape is a crime but prostitution is not! But in Islam both the acts are worthy of severe punishments.

Raping a woman is a filthy sin and must be dealt sternly. It not only destroys its victim physically and mentally but also destroys the society. Allah says in glorious Quran:

Those who slander chaste women, indiscreet but believing, are cursed in this Life and in the Hereafter: for them is a grievous Penalty, – On the Day when their tongues, their hands, and their feet will bear witness against them as to their actions. (24:23-4).

Here slandering also means accusing a chaste woman of immorality and spreading lies about her. Allah will not show any mercy to such a person if he dies in this state, without repenting.

Prostitution is not crime in most of the countries of the world, although considered as a shameful job. Most of the people promote flesh trade as there is a huge income in it. In todays’ modern world, we see government recognized institution for prostitution and prostitutes also get some benefits from the governments in some countries.

Narrated Abu Masud Al-Ansari: Allah’s Apostle regarded illegal the price of a dog, the earnings of a prostitute, and the charges taken by a soothsayer. (Bukhari Book #36, Hadith#482).

In many Western societies a rapist walks away free while the blame goes to the victim. Prostitution is legal in many secular nations including Muslim majority secular nations like Bangladesh.

May Allah Protect us.
2. Backbiting

Backbiting may not seem a crime but it definitely is a sin. A very grave sin. In the eyes of Allah aza-wa-jal, backbiting a person is causing harm to them. And Allah will punish the person who harms others. Yes, if a person hears what we speak about them behind their backs, it will surely hurt. And a moomin never hurts anyone. Allah says in Glorious Quran:

Woe to every (kind of) scandal-monger and-backbiter, who pileth up wealth and layeth it by, Thinking that his wealth would make him last forever! By no means! He will be sure to be thrown into that which Breaks to Pieces, and what will explain to thee that which Breaks to Pieces? (It is) the Fire of (the Wrath of) God kindled (to a blaze), the which doth mount (Right) to the Hearts: It shall be made into a vault over them, in columns outstretched. (104:1-9).

Unfortunately it is a norm in society and people take it so lightly. When they should think twice before saying anything about anyone. Always remember, Allah sees everything, Allah hears everything.

It is not considered a sin or crime in a secular system.

3. Eve teasing

A social evil. An act of immorality and indecency. Allah has ordered us to lower our gazes but some men in society not even look at women shamelessly but also pass lewd comments and misbehave. This evil must not normally occur in an Islamic society where women wear hijab/niqab, only the most shameless will commit such a sin in such a society. But nowadays in most of the nations, women do not know that hijab is compulsory for them nor do men know the importance of lowering their gazes. Many tend to think, hijab is optional and clothing does not have impact on other people’s minds but it is the nature of humans, which is made by Allah and he Himself has ordered us to cover ourselves properly and do not look at something that is not ours, let alone pass a comment! Many men are also guilty of believing it is quite normal to treat women without hijab in this way as they deserve this, as they are not following hijab and are sinful. Really? Are you following Hijab when you harass her? In this matter, both men and women are guilty and thus are promoting shamelessness and immorality which may further increase the rates of Zina and rapes. Allah says in glorious Quran:

And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husband’s fathers, their sons, their husbands’ sons, their brothers or their brothers’ sons, or their sisters’ sons, or their women, or the slaves whom their right hands possess, or male servants free of physical needs, or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex; and that they should not strike their feet in order to draw attention to their hidden ornaments. And O ye Believers! Turn ye all together towards Allah, that ye may attain Bliss. (24:31).
4. Indecency, immorality and lewdness

Lewdness is an act of asking sexual favors from others on streets or where ever. Allah says in Quran:

If two men among you are guilty of lewdness, punish them both. If they repent and amend, leave them alone; for Allah is Oft-returning, most Merciful. (4:16). [Type of punishment not mentioned here but we find a hadith that mentions a punishment, which is given below].

Narrated Samura bin Jundub: They said to me, ‘Proceed!’ So we proceeded and came across something like a Tannur (a kind of baking oven, a pit usually clay-lined for baking bread).” I think the Prophet said, “In that oven there was much noise and voices.” The Prophet added, “We looked into it and found naked men and women, and behold, a flame of fire was reaching to them from underneath, and when it reached them, they cried loudly. I asked them, ‘Who are these?’ …those naked men and women whom you saw in a construction resembling an oven, they are the adulterers and the adulteresses; (Bukhari Book #87, Hadith #171).

A believer must always remember, if he gets away in this world for this sins, there is no getting away in hereafter. Sins will be punished!

In most of the secular governments, some degree of intolerance is there but otherwise, it may be considered persons own problem or a maybe a freedom of speech but not a crime worthy of punishment!
5. Drinking alcohol

Alcohol is intoxication that is highly condemned in Islam.

Narrated ‘Umar bin Al-Khattab: During the lifetime of the Prophet there was a man called ‘Abdullah whose nickname was Donkey, and he used to make Allah’s Apostle laugh. The Prophet lashed him because of drinking (alcohol). And one-day he was brought to the Prophet on the same charge and was lashed. On that, a man among the people said, “O Allah, curse him! How frequently he has been brought (to the Prophet on such a charge)!” The Prophet said, “Do not curse him, for by Allah, I know for he loves Allah and His Apostle.” (BukhariBook #81, Hadith #771).

Drinking alcohol is an acceptable social norm in a secular society often considered a healthy habit.

6. Hypocrisy

A hypocrite may not be seen as a criminal or a sinner and most people would say: don’t judge, you don’t know his full story. Well, this may be case in certain situations but many times people are creating mischief and want corruption on land. Allah says: The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger, and strive with might and main for mischief through the land is: execution, or crucifixion, or the cutting off of hands and feet from opposite sides, or exile from the land: that is their disgrace in this world, and a heavy punishment is theirs in the Hereafter; (5:33).

Hypocrisy is the foundation of today’s’ modern and secular society. In fact to run a government some sort of diplomacy and hypocrisy is needed. All a believer must know that hypocrisy is a sin, which has a severe punishment in this world and in the hereafter.

May Allah protect us and make us among the righteous.