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… The final part of the path to Paradise involves us giving up our sins;
after this we will reach the gates of Paradise and enter it, insha’ Allah
(God Willing). In order to renounce our sins, we must take care in the
following areas:
- Thoughts: We should not think of anything which is harmful, evil or
corrupt. - Hearing: We should not listen to any of the following forms of
falsehood: sinful talk, swearing, lies, music, backbiting, slander, obscene
language, or Kufr (blasphemy, profanity). - Sight: We should not let our sight roam freely and look at that
which is not permitted to gaze upon, namely the woman who is a stranger of
non-Mahram, whether she is Muslim or non-Muslim, of good morals or
otherwise. - Speech: We should not utter bad language or obscenities, or tell
lies, or bear false witness, or backbite or slander, or insult or abuse
others. - Stomachs: We should not let any Haram (forbidden) food or drink to
enter our stomach; we should not earn our living from Riba (usury,
interest); we should not eat carrion or pork; we should not drink
intoxicating liquor, and we should not smoke any form of tobacco. - Private parts: We should not have sexual intercourse with anyone
except our lawful wives, or the concubines whom Allah (subhanahu wa ta`ala)
has made permissible. - Hands: We should not harm anyone, by beating or killing them; we
should not take Haram earnings; we should not gamble; and we should not
write false documents or anything which goes against Islam. - Legs: We should not walk towards vain and idle activities, or hasten
to commit acts of corruption and evil. - Promises, trusts and acts of witness: We should not break our
promises, violate our agreements, go back on our word, give false testimony
or betray our trust. - Wealth: We should not be extravagant or waste our wealth; nor should
we neglect to take care of it; we should not leave our wealth without trying
to invest it in good. - Family and children: We should take care of their physical, mental
and moral welfare, and ensure that their faith and beliefs are sound. We
should defend them against anything that may damage their hearts and minds,
and protect them from anything which could destroy them or lead to their
ultimate doom in Hell.
This is the way to Paradise, so let us be prepared to put it into practice
in our own lives. We cannot do this without sound knowledge based on the
Book of Allah (subhanahu wa taala) and the Sunnah of His Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).
reference: Renouncing the Sins
Shaykh Alee Hasan Alee `Abdul Hameed
Paradise, Its Blessings and How to Get There
© 1997 Dar Ibn Hazm