» 15th August 2012
The Effects Of Sinning
Sayyiduna 'Abdullah Ibn Mas'ood رضي الله عنه said: "I certainly think that a person forgets knowledge which he knew on account of a sin which he commits." (Ibn 'Abd al-Barr رحمه الله, Fayd al-Qadeer, vol 5, p446)
When Imam Abu Hanifah رحمه الله experienced any difficulty in solving a problem [or answering a question], he would say to his companions, "There is no reason for this except for a sin which I committed." He would then seek forgiveness.
Sometimes, he would stand up and offer salah. The problem [or the matter] would then become clear to him. He would then say: "I hope that my repentance is accepted."
When al-Fudayl Ibn 'Iyad رحمه الله heard about this, he began crying profusely. He then said: "That is because of the very few sins which he may have committed. As for others, they do not even turn their attention towards this [belief that they are forgetting because of their sins]." ('Ali al-Qari رحمه الله, Tabaqat al-Hanafiyyah, vol 2, p 487)
Waki' Ibn Jarrah al-Kufi رحمه الله was a senior Imam and a great personality with a very strong memory. People would go to pains in memorising things while he could memorise them naturally. 'Ali Ibn Khashram رحمه الله said: "I saw Waki', but never saw him carrying a book. He would merely memorise everything. So I asked him about a medication for memory. He replied: 'Abstention from sins. I have not come across anything better than that for the memory.'" (Ibn Hajar رحمه الله, Tahdheeb at-Tahdheeb, vol 11, p 129)
This is what Imam Shafi'ee رحمه الله referred to when he said: "I complained to Waki' about my weak memory. He advised me to abstain from sins. And informed me that knowledge is light, and the light of Allaah سبحانه و تعالى is not given to a sinner."
» posted by Seifeddine-M on 15th August 2012 -
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