The Curse of Sins upon Marital Happiness

There is no doubt that sins bring misery, disaster, depression, darkness of expression, hardness of heart, and turn happiness to sorrow and love to hatred. Some Salafi Scholars said: "If I disobey Allah I can feel the consequences of my sins on my wife's and horse's behaviour."[1]

Ibn al-Qayyim said: Sins have disgusting effects, which damage the heart and the body in this world and the Hereafter, and which Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) Alone knows fully.

It deprives one of knowledge, because knowledge is a light, which Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) puts into the heart of a believer, but the sins extinguish that light.

A sinner finds himself alone and separated from Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He). He may have the pleasure of the world at his feet, but still feels deprived of any spiritual joy and pleasure. Because of his sins, he is far from happy and his heart is dead. A dead man feels no pain.  Therefore, a wise man is he who abandons his sins.

Also, a sinner finds himself isolated and a stranger among his friends, especially the righteous ones. The more isolated he gets the more he feels cut off from them and from their help. Worse, he starts getting close to the followers of Satan, may Allah curse him, as he hides himself from the party of Allah. This isolation grows and the sinner loses his temper and falls out with his wife, children and relatives. He starts feeling lonely and alienated.

All his goals become difficult to achieve. The doors are closed in his face whenever he intends to accomplish a job. On the other hand, whoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him, He (Glorified and Exalted be He) will make a way for him to get out from every difficulty. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) often provides a solution in the most unexpected ways or from the most unexpected quarters. But whoever abandons Taqwa' (piety), Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) will make things difficult for him.

A sinner finds and feels real darkness in his heart similar to the darkest night. The gloom of a sin for the heart is like darkness for the eye. Obedience to Allah is a light and disobedience and sin is like darkness. The more this darkness   intensifies, the more confused the sinner becomes. He, then, becomes unaware and falls victim to innovation (Bida') and misguidance.   He becomes like a blind man walking alone in a dark night. Worse than that, this darkness grows until it becomes visible in the eye, then it grows until it emerges on the face, which becomes dark.

Abdullah Ibn Abbas (may Allah be with him) said: "A good deed reflects brightness  in the  face,  a light  in  the  heart,  abundance  in livelihood,  strength in the body and love in peoples' hearts. A sin reflects  darkness  on the face and heart, weakness  in the  body,  scarcity  in  livelihood   and  hatred  in  peoples' hearts."

Moreover, sins reduce a person's life span and obliterate his or her fortune.  Piety and righteousness increases one's life span while impiety reduces it.

Among the sins which spread in our Muslim society:

• Abandoning Salaat.

• Abandoning Zakaat.

• Failing to observe Hajj for those who can afford it. Slander.

• Drinking intoxicants and smoking.

• Going out to markets wearing indecent clothes and without a male relative (Mahram).

• Bringing up children in a Western education.

• Watching filthy movies and listening to music.

• Reading dirty magazines.

• Allowing domestic servants and drivers to enter the house without reason.

• Accompanying evil and corrupt people.

Neglecting and disobeying one's husband.

These are but a few examples of sins which have become prevalent in our society. Therefore, we have to fear Allah as much as we can, as Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says, “O you who believe! Ward off from yourselves and your families a (Hell) fire whose fuel is men and stones.” [Surah At-Tahrim: Verse 6]