THIRD EVENING. Yaumul Ithnayn, 7th day of Sha'abaan (Monday, 23rd April). THE REALITY OF SINS continues. Bismillaahir Rahmaanir Raheem. Imam Abu Hanifa (rahimahullaah) stated: When somebody praises you, then in reality they are praising ALLAH (SWT). For it is due to the Mercy of ALLAH (SWT) that he has kept your sins hidden from the eyes of people. If sins had a stench, then no-one would even come near you! When you commit a sin, you take great care of the small children that may be around, yet you have no thought of ALLAH Most High!? When committing a sin you close all those doors from which people may not be able to see you. However, you cannot close that door from which ALLAH is always watching you. A Tabiee (RAH) is recorded as saying: I have experienced, that whenever I happen to disobey any order of Allah (SWT) I get the recompense of disobedience from my wife, children, servants and even the animals I own. Allah (SWT) says: Whatever of misfortune befalls you, it is because of what your hands have earned. (Holy Quran, 42:30) When a person happens to sin, Allah (SWT) prepares 4 witnesses for him 1. The Earth is made a witness on the Day of Qiyamah to the sin perpetrated on its back: “That day (The Earth) will declare its information (good and bad that happened over it)” (Holy Quran 99:4). 2. The body parts of an individual will bear witness against the individual on the Day of Qiyamah: “This day (Qiyamah) we shall seal up their mouths, and their hands will speak to us, and their legs will bear witness to what they used to earn.” (Holy Quran, 36:65). 3. The Angels will bear witness on the Day of Qiyamah: “Verily, appointed over you are angels to watch over you, honourable and writing down your deeds, they know all that you do.” (Holy Quran, 82:10-12). 4. The Book of Deeds will bear witness to their actions on the Day of Qiyamah: “ And when the pages of the book of deeds (of every person) shall be laid open.” (Holy Quran, 81:10) One day Umar bin Khattab (RA) was reading this verse of the Holy Quran and the reality of the verse dawned upon him, he lost consciousness and was bed-ridden for several days. Many of the pious predecessors, used to read the following verse and cry all night saying “O Allah, what will be our condition be on that day?!” “The Day when all the secrets will be examined (as to their truth).” (Holy Quran, 86:9) The remedy for sins is only in sincere reptenance Allah (SWT) says: “O you who Believe! Turn to Allah with sincere repentance …” (Holy Quran, 66:8). May Allah (SWT) forgive all our sins through HIS Mercy and include us amongst his pious sevants. Aameen