Would Sins Prevent the Acceptance of Deeds?

Question

Does cutting off ties of kinship and having ill feelings towards other Muslim results in one’s good deeds being rejected by Allah, as mentioned in this hadith?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

May Allah alleviate our difficulties and guide us to what pleases Him. Amin.

Yes, various sins may prevent one’s good deeds from being accepted, while others may deprive one of forgiveness and blessings. Some hadiths specify occasions and blessings from which the perpetrators may be deprived, such as the polytheist and the harborer of ill feelings on the night of the middle of Sha‘ban.

Which Sins Cut Us Off from Allah?

It is worth noting that besides disbelief, the sins which generally cause deprivation from Allah’s forgiveness and blessings often relate to sins that involve the rights of others, especially family members.

Jubayr Ibn Mut‘im (Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “The one who severs his family ties will not enter Paradise.” [Bukhari; Muslim]

Sa‘id Ibn Zayd (Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Verily, this womb is derived from the name of the Most Merciful. Whoever severs its relations, Allah will forbid him from entering Paradise.” [Ahmad]

Abu Hurayra (Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:

“Do you know who the bankrupt is?” They said: “O Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace)! The bankrupt among us is the one who has no Dirham (money) nor property.”

The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said: “The bankrupt in my Umma is the one who comes with Salat and fasting and Zakat on the Day of Judgement, but he comes having abused this one, falsely accusing that one, wrongfully consuming the wealth of this one, spilling the blood of that one, and beating this one. So he is seated, and this one is recompensed from his rewards.

If his rewards are exhausted before the sins he committed are adjudicated, then some of their sins will be taken and cast upon him, then he will be cast into the Fire.” [Tirmidhi]

Am I Damned for Committing These Sins?

One should be cautious not to commit major sins and not harm others, but never lose hope in the Mercy of Allah because Allah can forgive all sins. Allah says: “Say, (O Prophet, that Allah says,) ‘O My servants who have exceeded the limits against their souls! Do not lose hope in Allah’s mercy, for Allah certainly forgives all sins. He is indeed the All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.’” [Quran, 39:53]

What Won’t Be Forgiven?

The only sin Allah guarantees will not be forgiven is when someone dies in disbelief or polytheism. Allah (Most High) says: “And whosoever of you turns back from his religion and dies as a disbeliever, then his deeds will be lost in this life and the Hereafter, and they will be the dwellers of the Fire. They will abide therein forever” [Quran, 2:217]

In conclusion, there are certain sins that Islam identifies as causes to be deprived of the acceptance of good deeds, forgiveness from Allah, and His blessings. We should strive to eliminate all sins from our lives. When we do make mistakes, we should strive to rectify them and never lose hope in Allah’s Mercy, and Allah knows best.

I pray this is of benefit and that Allah guides us all.
[Shaykh] Irshaad Sedick
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Irshaad Sedick was raised in South Africa in a traditional Muslim family. He graduated from Dar al-Ulum al-Arabiyyah al-Islamiyyah in Strand, Western Cape, under the guidance of the late world-renowned scholar Shaykh Taha Karaan.

Shaykh Irshaad received Ijaza from many luminaries of the Islamic world, including Shaykh Taha Karaan, Mawlana Yusuf Karaan, and Mawlana Abdul Hafeez Makki, among others.

He is the author of the text “The Musnad of Ahmad ibn Hanbal: A Hujjah or not?” He has served as the Director of the Discover Islam Centre and Al Jeem Foundation. For the last five years till present, he has served as the Khatib of Masjid Ar-Rashideen, Mowbray, Cape Town.

Shaykh Irshaad has thirteen years of teaching experience at some of the leading Islamic institutes in Cape Town). He is currently building an Islamic online learning and media platform called ‘Isnad Academy’ and has completed his Master’s degree in the study of Islam at the University of Johannesburg. He has a keen interest in healthy living and fitness.