Harmful effects of gunaah

1. When a person commits a gunaah, he is deprived of the knowledge of Deen as the knowledge of Deen is an internal light which is extinguished in the presence of sins.

2. Sustenance is decreased and there is no Barakah in food. Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: 

"A person is deprived of food due to a gunaah which he is committing." (Ahmad)

3. The person who commits a gunaah has a certain disgust and contempt for the practice of Deen and he is not interested in Deen.

4. The one who commits a gunaah has a certain contempt and disgust for those who practice Deen and his heart does not accept to remain in the company of pious people. And the extent that he distances himself from people who practice Deen, he is deprived of all the benefits of this Dunya proportionately.

5. Generally, when a person practice Deen and has Taqwa, Allah Ta’ala makes a way out for him from every difficulty. Similarly, when a person forsakes Taqwa and commits gunaah, the paths of success and prosperity are closed for him.

6. Darkness spreads in the heart through gunaah and this darkness is reflected on the face of that person also.  

Hazrat Abdullah Ibn Abbas (Radiyallahu Anhu) said: "Through good deeds, a person receives a Nur on his face and in his heart, he receives Barakah in his Rozi, he gains strength in his body, and people admire him. And when a person commits gunaah, there is darkness on his face and in his heart and there will be darkness in his Qabr also. He feels lazy. There is no Barakah in his Rozi and people have disgust and hatred for him."

[English version of "Mefait de gounaah" – Al Jamiat – Vol.1 No.12]