Some Muslims had been praying Salat and observing fasts, but when an opportunity from an illegitimate source arose, they leapt upon it, so will be sent to Hell.

وَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ص قَالَ: لَيَجِيئَنَّ أَقْوَامٌ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ لَهُمْ مِنَ الْحَسَنَاتِ كَجِبَالِ تِهَامَةَ فَيُؤْمَرُ بِهِمْ إِلَى النَّارِ

And from the Prophet^-saww having said: ‘A people will be coming on the Day of Qiyamah, for them would be from the good deeds like mount Tihama. He^-azwj will Command with them to the Fire!’

فَقِيلَ يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ أَ مُصَلُّونَ

It was said, ‘O Prophet^-saww of Allah^-azwj! Would they be the praying ones?’

قَالَ كَانُوا يُصَلُّونَ وَ يَصُومُونَ وَ يَأْخُذُونَ وَهْناً مِنَ اللَّيْلِ لَكِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا إِذَا لَاحَ لَهُمْ شَيْ‏ءٌ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا وَثَبُوا عَلَيْهِ.

He^-asws said: ‘They had been praying Salat, and fasting, and they were taking weakness from the night (by holding vigil), but they were such, whenever something from the world (from illegitimate) became apparent to them, they leapt upon it’’.^[1]

وَ رَوَى مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَعْقُوبَ يَرْفَعُهُ إِلَى أَبِي حَمْزَةَ قَالَ: كُنْتُ عِنْدَ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ ع فَجَاءَهُ رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ لَهُ يَا أَبَا مُحَمَّدٍ إِنِّي مُبْتَلًى بِالنِّسَاءِ فَأَزْنِي يَوْماً وَ أَصُومُ يَوْماً أَ فَيَكُونُ ذَا كَفَّارَةً لِذَا

And it is reported by Muhammad Bin Yaqoub, raising it to Abu Hamza who said,

‘I was in the presence of Ali^-asws Bin Al-Husayn^-asws, and a man came to him^-asws. He said to him^‑asws, ‘O Abu Muhammad^-asws! I get tempted by the women, so I commit adultery one day and I fast one day. Would that be an expiation of this?’

فَقَالَ لَهُ ع إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ شَيْ‏ءٌ أَحَبَّ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مِنْ أَنْ يُطَاعَ فَلَا يُعْصَى فَلَا تَزْنِ وَ لَا تَصُمْ

He^-asws said to him: ‘There isn’t anything more beloved to Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic that for Him^-azwj to be obeyed, so do not disobey. Neither commit adultery nor fast (for it)’.

فَاجْتَذَبَهُ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع إِلَيْهِ فَأَخَذَ بِيَدِهِ وَ قَالَ لَهُ تَعْمَلُ عَمَلَ أَهْلِ النَّارِ وَ تَرْجُو أَنْ تَدْخُلَ الْجَنَّةَ.

Abu Ja’far^-asws pulled him to himself^-asws and held his hand and said to him: ‘You are doing the deed of the people of Fire, and you are hoping to entering into the Paradise?’’^[2]

أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الْأَشْعَرِيُّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ النَّضْرِ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ شِمْرٍ عَنْ جَابِرٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ( عليه السلام ) فِي قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ لَمْ يُصِرُّوا عَلى ما فَعَلُوا وَ هُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ قَالَ الْإِصْرَارُ هُوَ أَنْ يُذْنِبَ الذَّنْبَ فَلَا يَسْتَغْفِرَ اللَّهَ وَ لَا يُحَدِّثَ نَفْسَهُ بِتَوْبَةٍ فَذَلِكَ الْإِصْرَارُ .

Abu Ali Al Ashary, from Muhammad Bin Salim, from Ahmad Bin Al Nazar, from Amro Bin Shimr, form Jabir,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Ja’far^-asws regarding the Words of Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic [3:135] and (who) do not knowingly persist in what they have done. He^-asws said: ‘The persistence, it is when he commits the sins, but he does not seek the Forgiveness of Allah^‑azwj nor does he discuss the repentance with himself. So that is the persistence (upon sinning)’.^[3]

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ مَنْصُورِ بْنِ يُونُسَ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) يَقُولُ لَا وَ اللَّهِ لَا يَقْبَلُ اللَّهُ شَيْئاً مِنْ طَاعَتِهِ عَلَى الْإِصْرَارِ عَلَى شَيْ‏ءٍ مِنْ مَعَاصِيهِ .

Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, from Ibn Abu Umeyr, from Mansour Bin Yunus, from Abu Baseer who said,

‘I heard Abu Abdullah^-asws saying: ‘No, by Allah^-azwj! Allah^-azwj will not Accept anything from his obedience, upon his persistence upon something from his disobedience’.^[4]

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ النَّوْفَلِيِّ عَنِ السَّكُونِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) مِنْ عَلَامَاتِ الشَّقَاءِ جُمُودُ الْعَيْنِ وَ قَسْوَةُ الْقَلْبِ وَ شِدَّةُ الْحِرْصِ فِي طَلَبِ الدُّنْيَا وَ الْإِصْرَارُ عَلَى الذَّنْبِ .

Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, from Al Nowfaly, from Al Sakuny,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah^-asws having said: ‘Rasool-Allah^-saww said: ‘From the signs of the wretchedness is the lustfulness of the eyes, and the harshness of the heart, and the intenseness of the greed in seeking the world, and the persistence upon the sin’.[5]

Persistent on Committing Sins:

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنِ الْحَارِثِ بْنِ بَهْرَامَ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ جُمَيْعٍ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) مَنْ جَاءَنَا يَلْتَمِسُ الْفِقْهَ وَ الْقُرْآنَ وَ تَفْسِيرَهُ فَدَعُوهُ وَ مَنْ جَاءَنَا يُبْدِي عَوْرَةً قَدْ سَتَرَهَا اللَّهُ فَنَحُّوهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ وَ اللَّهِ إِنَّنِي لَمُقِيمٌ عَلَى ذَنْبٍ مُنْذُ دَهْرٍ أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَتَحَوَّلَ عَنْهُ إِلَى غَيْرِهِ فَمَا أَقْدِرُ عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ لَهُ إِنْ كُنْتَ صَادِقاً فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّكَ وَ مَا يَمْنَعُهُ أَنْ يَنْقُلَكَ مِنْهُ إِلَى غَيْرِهِ إِلَّا لِكَيْ تَخَافَهُ .

Ali bin Ibrahim, from his father, form Ibn Abu Umeyr, from Al Haris Bin Bahran, from Amro Bin Jumi’e who said,

‘Abu Abdullah^-asws said: ‘The one who comes to us^-asws seeking the jurisprudence, and the Quran and its interpretation, so invite him; and the one who comes to us^-asws showing openly what Allah^-azwj has Veiled, so prevent him’. So, a man from the group said to him^-asws: ‘May I be sacrificed for you^-asws! By Allah^-azwj! I have been staying upon a sin since forever (since a long time). I intend to transfer away from it to other than it, but I am not able upon it’. So, he^‑asws said to him: ‘If you were truthful, so Allah^-azwj Loves you, and nothing is preventing you from transferring from it to other than it except you are fearing Him^-azwj (which is why you are intending as such)’.^[6]

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ حَرِيزٍ عَنْ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ مَا مِنْ ذَنْبٍ إِلَّا وَ قَدْ طُبِعَ عَلَيْهِ عَبْدٌ مُؤْمِنٌ يَهْجُرُهُ الزَّمَانَ ثُمَّ يُلِمُّ بِهِ وَ هُوَ قَوْلُ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ الَّذِينَ يَجْتَنِبُونَ كَبائِرَ الْإِثْمِ وَ الْفَواحِشَ إِلَّا اللَّمَمَ قَالَ اللَّمَّامُ الْعَبْدُ الَّذِي يُلِمُّ الذَّنْبَ بَعْدَ الذَّنْبِ لَيْسَ مِنْ سَلِيقَتِهِ أَيْ مِنْ طَبِيعَتِهِ .

Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, from Hammad Bin isa, from Hareyz, from Is’haq Bin Ammar,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah^-asws having said: ‘There is none from a sin except that it gets imprinted upon a Momin servant, fleeing from it for a time, then committing it, and these are the Words of Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic [53:32] Those who keep aloof from the great sins and the immoralities except for the ‘Lamam’. He^-asws said: ‘Al-Lamam is the servant who commits the sin after the sin, it not being from his normal tendency, i.e., from his nature’.^[7]

APPENDIX: Additional Ahadith on Persistence of committing sins

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ أَ رَأَيْتَ قَوْلَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ الَّذِينَ يَجْتَنِبُونَ كَبائِرَ الْإِثْمِ وَ الْفَواحِشَ إِلَّا اللَّمَمَ قَالَ هُوَ الذَّنْبُ يُلِمُّ بِهِ الرَّجُلُ فَيَمْكُثُ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ ثُمَّ يُلِمُّ بِهِ بَعْدُ.

Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, from Ibn Abu Umeyr, from Abu Ayoub, from Muhammad Bin Muslim,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah^-asws, said, ‘I said to him^-asws, ‘What is your^-asws view of the Words of Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic [53:32] Those who keep aloof from the great sins and the immoralities except for the ‘Lamam’. He^-asws said: ‘It is the sin committed by the man, and he remains (not committing it again) for as long as Allah^-azwj so Desires, then he commits it (again) afterwards’.^[8]

أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الْأَشْعَرِيُّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْجَبَّارِ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ عَنِ الْعَلَاءِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ أَحَدِهِمَا ( عليهما السلام ) قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ الَّذِينَ يَجْتَنِبُونَ كَبائِرَ الْإِثْمِ وَ الْفَواحِشَ إِلَّا اللَّمَمَ قَالَ الْهَنَةُ بَعْدَ الْهَنَةِ أَيِ الذَّنْبُ بَعْدَ الذَّنْبِ يُلِمُّ بِهِ الْعَبْدُ .

Abu Ali Al Ashary, from Muhammad Bin Abdul Jabbar, from Safwan, from Al A’ala, from Muhammad Bin Muslim,

(It has been narrated) from one of the two (5^th or 6^th Imam^-asws), said, ‘I said to him^-asws, ‘(What about) [53:32] Those who keep aloof from the great sins and the immoralities except for the ‘Lamam’?’ He^-asws said: ‘The defiance after the defiance i.e., the sin after the sin committed by the man’.^[9]

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ يُونُسَ عَنْ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) مَا مِنْ مُؤْمِنٍ إِلَّا وَ لَهُ ذَنْبٌ يَهْجُرُهُ زَمَاناً ثُمَّ يُلِمُّ بِهِ وَ ذَلِكَ قَوْلُ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِلَّا اللَّمَمَ

Ali Bin Ibrahim, from Muhammad Bin Isa, from Yunus, from Is’haq Bin Ammar who said,

‘Abu Abdullah^-asws said: ‘There is none from a Momin except for him is a sin he has fled from it for a time, then he commits it, and these are the Words of Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic [53:32] except for the ‘Lamam’.

وَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ الَّذِينَ يَجْتَنِبُونَ كَبائِرَ الْإِثْمِ وَ الْفَواحِشَ إِلَّا اللَّمَمَ قَالَ الْفَوَاحِشُ الزِّنَى وَ السَّرِقَةُ وَ اللَّمَمُ الرَّجُلُ يُلِمُّ بِالذَّنْبِ فَيَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ مِنْهُ.

And I asked him^-asws about the Words of Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic [53:32] Those who keep aloof from the great sins and the immoralities except for the ‘Lamam’. He^-asws said: ‘The immoralities are the adultery, and the theft, and ‘al-Lamam’ – the man commits the sin, so he seeks Forgiveness from it (then commits it again after a time)’.^[10]

[1] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 67 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 56 H 8 h

[2] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 67 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 56 H 8 g

[3] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Belief and Disbelief CH 114 H 2

[4] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Belief and Disbelief CH 114 H 3

[5] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Belief and Disbelief CH 115 H 6

[6] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Belief and Disbelief CH 194 H 4

[7] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Belief and Disbelief CH 194 H 5

[8] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Belief and Disbelief CH 194 H 1

[9] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Belief and Disbelief CH 194 H 2

[10] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Belief and Disbelief CH 194 H 3