The Ill-Effects of Sins – Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih Al-Uthaymeen

About The Ill-Effects of Sins

The Ill-Effects of Sins is a short booklet containing the text of a sermon by Shaykh Muhammad ibn Salih al-Uthaymeen. Its Arabic title is Athar al-Ma’asi ‘ala al-Fard wa’l-Mujtama’, which can be rendered as “The Effects of Sins on the Individual and Society”. The English edition is a booklet of about twenty pages translated by Ronald Burbank, also known as Abu Talha Dawud Burbank, and published by Al-Hidaayah in the UK.

It is a khutbah, so it is brief, direct and meant to move the heart. The sermon was delivered on 12 Muharram 1411 AH.

What the booklet is about

• The harmful consequences of sin for the individual
• How sins affect families and society as a whole
• A reminder to turn back to Allah in repentance

About the author

Shaykh Muhammad ibn Salih al-Uthaymeen was born on 9 March 1929 and died on 10 January 2001. He was a Saudi scholar, professor and writer on fiqh and creed, who studied under Shaykh Abd al-Rahman as-Sa’di and Shaykh Ibn Baz. His many works include the Fatawa Arkan al-Islam. His name is also spelt al-Uthaymin.

Why a short sermon can help

Sin often feels small at the time, yet its effects build up in the heart and in the home. A short, sincere reminder can help a person stop and think. Because the booklet is brief, it is easy to read in one sitting, to share with friends or to read aloud in a gathering.

Who should read it

This booklet suits students, parents, young people and anyone who wants a quick reminder about repentance. Mosque libraries and study circles often keep copies to give out.

How to benefit

Read it slowly and pause at each point to reflect on your own life. Make a list of any habits you wish to leave and ask Allah for help. Return to the booklet from time to time. Remember that the door of repentance is open, and that the Prophet ﷺ taught that Allah accepts the repentance of His servant until the end.

Repentance and hope

A reminder about sins should lead to hope and action, not despair. The believer who sees the harm of wrong action is moved to repent, to make amends and to seek a better path. This booklet fits that purpose. Pair it with a longer book on repentance and forgiveness for a fuller picture.

A note for readers

This is a short sermon in translation, not a long treatise. It is best read as a reminder and a starting point for reflection and discussion with a teacher or an elder.

Why reminders should be regular

The heart forgets quickly. Scholars of the past advised the believer to return often to short reminders about death, accountability and the harm of sin, because such reminders keep the heart soft. A booklet like The Ill-Effects of Sins fits easily into a bag or a shelf by the bed, so that a person can pick it up when the heart feels hard. Reading it before sleep or after Fajr can set the tone for the day.

Parents may also read it aloud to older children in a gentle manner, with encouragement rather than fear, so that the family learns together to avoid wrong and to return to Allah.

Edition details

An English booklet of about twenty pages published by Al-Hidaayah, translated by Ronald Burbank. Other printings may exist, so please message us on WhatsApp at 9906523492 if you need details of the copy in stock. Same-day dispatch from Srinagar.

Frequently asked questions

Is it a full book? No, it is a short booklet based on a sermon.

Who is the author? Shaykh Muhammad ibn Salih al-Uthaymeen.

Who translated it? Ronald Burbank, also known as Abu Talha Dawud Burbank.

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