If we commit sins, are we rendered as those who stand against the Imam?
Answer:
The term “to stand against the Imam” should be made more clear. If it means not to act in accordance to the Imam’s desire the answer is yes. To sin, regardless of it being minor or major, leads to opposing God and the Imam. But if the mentioned term means that when one commits a sin he in reality opposes the Imam and rejects him and that the Imam would no longer accept the man as one of his followers, the answer is that it is dependable. Some of the sins are so great and make the man so corrupt and corruptive or the effect of those sins in one’s life and in his society is so profound and deep that it will be regarded as an act contrary to the mission of the Imam. However, there are some minor sins committed in secret that are done due to the lack of piety or sudden negligence or one’s inability against the power of lust and the like. These sort of sins do not necessarily mean that the sinner wants to oppose God and the Imam.
For further information the following notes would be beneficial:
1- The Imam is the agent of Allah and acts exactly as Allah wants and desires. Consequently, as Allah is Affectionate and Merciful to His servants and forgives them their sins, the Imam is also like this. On the other hand, if our sins are so hideous that they mean we are opposing Allah it, of course, would mean that we have moved against the Imam.
2- Committing sins makes one distances from his Imam and it widens the gap between man and the Imam. A real Moslem should protect his faith and should refrain even from the minor sins. This is what the Prophet of Islam says to Abū dharr, his bosom companion,
يَا أَبَا ذَرٍّ لَا تَنْظُرْ إِلَى صِغَرِ الْخَطِيئَةِ وَ لَكِنِ انْظُرْ إِلَى مَنْ عَصَيْت
“O Abū dharr! Do not look at the smallness of a sin, rather pay attention that by committing that small sin, Whom (Allah) have you disobeyed.” (Bihār al-Anwār, vol. 74, p. 79, hadith 3.)
As a result, if one realizes the greatness of God and the Imam who see our actions, he abstains even from the so called small sins.
Moreover, it is narrated from Imam al-Sādiq to have said to one of his close follower namely Jābīr al-Jo’fī something important in regard with committing sins and its connection with opposing the Imams,
مَنْ کانَ لِلّهِ مُطیعا فَهُوَ لَنا وَلِیٌّ، وَمَنْ کانَ لِلّهِ عاصیا فَهُوَ لَنا عَدُوٌّ، وَما تَنالُ وِلایتَنا إلاّ بالعَمَلِ وَالْوَرَعِ
“One who is submissive to Allah can claim to love us and those who disobey Allah, they are our enemies. No one can claim to accept our guardianship but through piety and good actions.”
(Usūl al-kāfī vol. 2, p. 74, hadith 3.)
3- There is a criterion to realize how much one loves God and the Imam or opposes them. Imam Ali bin Abī Tālib says,
مَنْ أَرَادَ مِنْکُمْ أَنْ یَعْلَمَ کَیْفَ مَنْزِلَتُهُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ فَلْیَنْظُرْ کَیْفَ مَنْزِلَةُ اللَّهِ مِنْهُ عِنْدَ الذُّنُوبِ کَذَلِکَ مَنْزِلَتُهُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ تَبَارَکَ وَ تَعَالَى
“If one wants to know how his statues is with God he should pay attention how much God is great to him when he faces an (alluring) sin. His position with God is equal to the position of God to him.” (Bihār al-Anwār, vol. 67, p. 18, hadith 11.)
Exactly the same, if one wants to know how much the Imam will honor him, he should look how much he would honor the Imam (who sees our actions) when he faces a sin. It means that when man commits a sin he has dishonored God and the Imam and dismissed their presence.
4- As soon as one commits a sin he has to repent and decide not to do it again. Also some sins require some amendments. For instance, if one backbites his friend he has to remove its negative effects or if one usurps others’ rights has to compensate. By this way, the man will return back to God and the Imam and will enjoy their mercies as before.
5 – If one commits a sin and does not repent it will becomes easier for him to do the next sin. Man should be cautious that it would result in such a degradation that would be unimaginable at first. This is what God says in the Quran,
ثُمَّ كانَ عاقِبَةَ الَّذينَ أَساؤُا السُّواى أَنْ كَذَّبُوا بِآياتِ اللَّهِ وَ كانُوا بِها يَسْتَهْزِؤُنَ
“Perdition was the end of those who committed the worst things: They denied the signs and miracles of Allah and made ridicule of them.” (The Quran, 30:10)
Such a man will be so drown in darkness that he would deny the Imam or would oppose him and his mission.
