Sūrat al-Anʿām
Section 4 of 21 · Surah Studies · Mufti Abdul Rahman Mangera
When a Bad Deed Becomes Your Nature
There is something of great interest in verse 28 — or 27; verses 26, 27 and 28:
بَلْ بَدَا لَهُم مَّا كَانُوا۟ يُخْفُونَ مِن قَبْلُ ۖ وَلَوْ رُدُّوا۟ لَعَادُوا۟ لِمَا نُهُوا۟ عَنْهُ وَإِنَّهُمْ لَكَـٰذِبُونَ
“In fact, what they were concealing earlier will become clear to them. If they were sent back, they would again go for what they were forbidden from, as they are sheer liars.” (6:28)
Even in the Hereafter, were matters made entirely plain to them and were they then sent back to the earth, they would return to what they did before, that having become their nature. This is, as was explained in an earlier chapter, the reason a man should never justify a thing he cannot give up. Do not let it become your nature. Despise it always, and wish to be free of it; for once a thing becomes one's nature — once a bad deed becomes one's nature — it is very hard to come out of it. Hence Allah says that it may grow so much worse that even were a man to go and see the reality, and the punishment, and all of it, he would return and do the same again, it having become his nature. May Allah protect us. There is a supplication worth making: O Allah, protect us from those sins which have become part of our lives, and which we no longer see as sins at all. For, believe it, many even among us who are practising have these difficulties. May Allah help us.
Hence, in verse 30:
وَلَوْ تَرَىٰٓ إِذْ وُقِفُوا۟ عَلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ ۚ قَالَ أَلَيْسَ هَـٰذَا بِٱلْحَقِّ ۚ قَالُوا۟ بَلَىٰ وَرَبِّنَا ۚ قَالَ فَذُوقُوا۟ ٱلْعَذَابَ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَكْفُرُونَ
“If only you could see when they will be made to stand before their Lord! He will say, “Is this not true?” They will say, “Of course, by our Lord, it is.” He will say, “Then, taste the punishment, for you used to disbelieve.”” (6:30)
Could you but see when they are made to stand before their Lord, and He says: is this not the truth? Then they will say: yes, this is assuredly the truth. Taste then the punishment, for you disbelieved before.
Another thing they say:
وَقَالُوا۟ لَوْلَا نُزِّلَ عَلَيْهِ ءَايَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦ ۚ قُلْ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ قَادِرٌ عَلَىٰٓ أَن يُنَزِّلَ ءَايَةً وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
“They say, “Why is it that no sign (of our choice) has been sent down to him from his Lord?” Say, “Allah is surely powerful enough to send down a sign.” But most of them do not know.” (6:37)
Why does a sign not come — why is a sign not sent down to him from his Lord? Say: Allah is able to send down whatever signs He wills; but most people do not know. This is a passage to be read and reflected upon for oneself. It is very powerful, and cannot be done justice in the short space there is.